Change in team for a change of luck

Bangladesh are going to make a couple of changes in the team against West Indies at St Lucia, hoping to bring some change in their luck in the second Test starting today.

Anamul Haque was called in as a replacement for Yasir Ali, and Shoriful Islam was also asked to join at the last moment.

Skipper Shakib Al Hasan openly shared his disgust regarding the batsmen and hinted change in the top-order. Fingers are being pointed at Najmul Hossain Shanto and former captain Mominul Haque, who come to bat at numbers three and four.

Both the left-handers are going through lean patches. Shanto made a total of 25 runs in his last six appearances for Bangladesh, while Mominul failed to reach double-digit runs in his last nine innings, where he made a total of 28 runs.

The team management is likely to bring at least one change in the top order after a series of debacles. Anamul, who plays as an opener in the domestic tournaments, might reappear in the Test team after eight years.

The right-handed batsman played his last Test at the same stadium where the second Test of the series will start today.

Shoriful was on his way to recovery after suffering a fracture in his finger. BCB president Nazmul Hassan called him, and he was sent to the Caribbeans in a hurry.

The left-arm pacer is also likely to play replacing Mustafizur Rahman in the second Test.

West Indies announced an unchanged 13-men squad for the second Test.

“It was a very good victory in Antigua. The team played well and must be feeling confident heading into Saint Lucia for the second match. We have a group of players who are very disciplined and are giving 100 per cent,” West Indies lead selector Desmond Haynes told Cricket West Indies.

“Great credit to our bowlers who worked really hard in the first Test match. We can’t take Bangladesh lightly, they also bowled really well and were quite disciplined. I know we will try our utmost to win the second match,” he added.

Kemar Roach always enjoys success against Bangladesh. He just recovered from injury and demolished Bangladesh in Antigua, his favourite hunting ground.

Haynes is hopeful about Roach repeating his success against Bangladesh at Saint Lucia.

“Kemar is a legend. He has done really well for West Indies. He made a great start to his career, then had some injuries, and then he worked his way back and is our leading bowler,” said the former batsman.

“He’s among the best in the world. I am very pleased with his performances, not just on the field, but the way he had been guiding the younger players and the way he has been interacting with the other members of the team,” added Haynes.

Bangladesh, on the other hand, is suffering from batting disasters. Shakib is the only batsman who reached half-centuries in both the innings, and Nurul Hasan Sohan scored a half-century in the second innings.

Apart from them, none of the recognised batsmen could score a significant number of runs. Six batsmen were dismissed for a duck in the first innings.

Shakib said after the match that most batsmen don’t have a sound batting technique, and the problem is not solvable within a short time.

The skipper was happy to avoid an innings defeat at Antigua, he might not be expecting a complete turnaround at St Lucia, but a few tweaks can make some difference.