Bangladesh men’s national cricket team head coach Russell Domingo is unhappy to see a drawn Test being seen as a success.
The reaction has come in relation to Bangladesh’s drawn Test against hosts Sri Lanka in the first match of the two-Test series.
A flat wicket at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium saw the game turn into a paradise for batsmen of both the teams, frustrate the bowlers and finish eventually in a boring stalemate.
Bangladesh will take on Sri Lanka in the second and final Test of the series Thursday at the same venue, and Domingo wants to focus on winning matches than praising a draw.
“It is disappointing when a drawn Test is seen as a massive success. I am not here for drawn Tests. We don’t want to lose Tests but we should have a mental shift. We have to play to win, and not merely be happy with draws. I have had six or seven Tests with the team now and I think I understand our team and culture. I know the areas we need to improve on, particularly on the mental side of things in Tests. There’s a long way to go. There’s a fear of losing Tests, and that’s something that we have to come away from,” said Domingo at the pre-match virtual press conference Wednesday.
Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo ahead of the declaration of the squad had informed inclusion of the players for the second Test was done making sure the players are in the best shape for the game
Posted by Sports Tribune on Wednesday, 28 April 2021
“We (Bangladesh) have to play to win. At the moment I feel we are playing not to lose. It is a mental shift that we need to make. That mental shift will take a bit of time. Guys haven’t been successful in Tests. Until we change that mindset, we will always be okay with mediocrity. It is not something I want to be part of. We want to take the team forward and play the game to win. We have to bat first in tough conditions. We have to declare to give ourselves enough time to bowl sides out. Those are the shifts that you have to make to become a serious Test playing nation,” he added.
Bangladesh declared an unchanged 15-member squad for the game following an assessment of the players’ fitness.
The mere three-day gap between the two Tests has been a concern as to whether it is enough for players’ recovery, especially the pace bowlers in the shape of Abu Jayed Rahi, Taskin Ahmed and Ebadat Hossain, who toiled hard in the most unfavorable of conditions on a docile track.
“I think they (Taskin, Jayed, Ebadat) are our three leading fast bowlers at the moment. I have been very impressed with Shariful (Islam), who showed some really good stuff in the nets. I would like to keep the same three going (for the second Test),” said Domingo.
“But I have to consider their workload from the last Test that ended few days ago. Taskin bowled 37 overs, Ebadat bowled 30-odd and Rahi bowled 20-odd. I want to make sure they are fresh and ready to give 100% again in a couple of days. We have given them two days off. We just want to see how they feel in (Wednesday's) light practice,” the Bangladesh head coach explained.
