Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo admitted that the Tigers need to change something in order to bring positive results in Test cricket after their collapse against visiting Sri Lanka in the second Test.
Tigers top-order failed miserably in both the innings of the Mirpur Test as Bangladesh eventually surrendered to a 10-wicket loss at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium Friday and subsequently lost the series 1-0 which is part of the World Test Championship.
“We have got to do something different, we got to change the order around, really look at one or two things. Both innings 23/4 (second) and 24/5 (first), you are not going to win Test matches from that position so definitely this is something we need to look at it and try and…we have got to change something,” a frustrated Domingo said to the media during the post match press conference in Mirpur Friday.
“It has happened too much over the last six to eight months, well that means we have got to change the order, look at one or two options, we are going to possibly have to do that going forward.
“I think at the end of the day there are like so many positives to take out of it. We are getting so close, we are getting into good positions and then we have a very bad session.
“We are competing, we are in the game for four days and then have a bad session, have such a bad session that there’s no way back. Like I have said we need to do something differently because this has happened too much over the last period of time, I have been supporting and backing players as much as I possibly can but there comes a time when you need to do something differently because we are getting so close, getting into good positions.
“First Test against Sri Lanka, they’re six down for 98, they end up drawing. West Indies chased down 400. Against Pakistan, we were 188, five down, then we lost four wickets. South Africa, we are getting into a good position, Rabbi (Yasir Ali) gets run out. So there’s so many small mistakes that are made in crucial stages, hopefully with that experience will come, hopefully with a bit more confidence and belief, we will come (out of it). But to get that confidence you need to win some games,” Domingo concluded.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka produced a team effort to clinch a deserved victory and wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella praised pacer duo Asitha Fernando and Kasun Rajitha for their brilliant display in the field.
“They (Asitha and Rajitha) are the best bowlers in Sri Lanka, that’s why they are on tour. All the fast bowlers have done their homework, and done their job whenever they were called up. He (Asitha) got an opportunity and I think he nailed it,” said Dickwella.
“In the first innings, there was something for the seamers. Bit of movement and swing. We took five early wickets but we couldn’t quite take the other five wickets. In the second innings, it was going up and down. Seam movement was there. We stuck to our basic line and length. We wanted to bowl stump line in the second innings.
“We had our plans cut out in the second innings. We knew the top-order was struggling in the first innings. We wanted to bowl in line and length first. With Asitha’s pace and tactics with the short ball, we knew it would be hard for them. We wanted to spread the field, not to give easy runs. Then attack when possible.”
Sri Lanka climbed to fourth position in the WTC with this series win while Bangladesh remained ninth with 16 points.
