Ashraful didn't know Bangladesh needed 163 runs to avoid follow-on
Thursday, 30 October 2008
Sounds incredible, but as the skipper of a Test playing team Mohammad Ashraful was not aware of the fact that Bangladesh needed 163 runs to avoid the follow-on at the end of 4th day in the second Test against New Zealand, reports UNB.
Replying to New Zealand's first innings total of 262/6 (dec.), Ashraful went to the crease as number three batsman despite sending a night watchman thinking that he would be able to avoid the follow-on scoring 63 runs in quick time. But rules suggest that Bangladesh had to score 163.
"I was not aware of this follow on rule before going to the crease to bat," said Ashraful in reply to a question at a post match briefing at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS) after the second Test of the BRAC Bank Series Wednesday.
However, he thinks that they played well as a team throughout the series and created chance of winning in both the One Day International (ODI) and Test Series.
He said, "We had a reasonably good series… had a very good chance of winning the ODI series. We also played well in the first Test. Overall, both the series were good for us."
Ashraful, a victim of lbw for duck in the first innings by Vettori, believed that this series will boost their confidence ahead of the ensuing South Africa tour.
"After the lone 20/20 match, we will play the ODI series and then the Test series (in South Africa). The confidence level of every player is now good and there is a chance of winning there if we can deliver our best, although the conditions will be difficult," he said.
Asked to comment on his counterpart Vettori, the Bangladesh skipper said, "He (Vettori) has a lot of variations and bowled well in the Test Series. He is different from our left-arm spinners with his flight variations."
Bangladesh coach Jamie Siddons also believed that his side had a very good chance of winning both the ODI and Test series. "We were in a position to win both the series but we could not do that."
Replying to New Zealand's first innings total of 262/6 (dec.), Ashraful went to the crease as number three batsman despite sending a night watchman thinking that he would be able to avoid the follow-on scoring 63 runs in quick time. But rules suggest that Bangladesh had to score 163.
"I was not aware of this follow on rule before going to the crease to bat," said Ashraful in reply to a question at a post match briefing at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS) after the second Test of the BRAC Bank Series Wednesday.
However, he thinks that they played well as a team throughout the series and created chance of winning in both the One Day International (ODI) and Test Series.
He said, "We had a reasonably good series… had a very good chance of winning the ODI series. We also played well in the first Test. Overall, both the series were good for us."
Ashraful, a victim of lbw for duck in the first innings by Vettori, believed that this series will boost their confidence ahead of the ensuing South Africa tour.
"After the lone 20/20 match, we will play the ODI series and then the Test series (in South Africa). The confidence level of every player is now good and there is a chance of winning there if we can deliver our best, although the conditions will be difficult," he said.
Asked to comment on his counterpart Vettori, the Bangladesh skipper said, "He (Vettori) has a lot of variations and bowled well in the Test Series. He is different from our left-arm spinners with his flight variations."
Bangladesh coach Jamie Siddons also believed that his side had a very good chance of winning both the ODI and Test series. "We were in a position to win both the series but we could not do that."