Ashraful under pressure to perform: Siddons
Saturday, 23 January 2010
Bangladesh coach Jamie Siddons said batsman Mohammad Ashraful was fortunate to retain a place in the national team but felt there was no adequate replacement for him yet.
Siddons also viewed the first Test as an opportunity lost for Bangladesh and believed the result could have been different had the top order batted better, reports Cricinfo.
Ashraful averages 22.92 from 51 Tests, and his 101 against Sri Lanka in December 2008 is his only 50-plus score in more than two years.
"There is definitely a lot of pressure on Mohammad Ashraful," Siddons told Cricinfo Friday.
"He knows that he has been very inconsistent and we have talked about it. In that regard, he is very lucky to be still in the team but unless you find someone else, someone better, to replace him, he will play. After all, it wasn't long time back that he hit a hundred against Sri Lanka. I hope he scores in the second Test and inspires the whole team."
National selector Akram Khan had earlier said that they were forced to play Ashraful in the past because of the lack of seniors but Siddons wasn't convinced about that reasoning.
"I have never been a fan of playing players just because of experience. You need to perform," Siddons said.
Siddons also viewed the first Test as an opportunity lost for Bangladesh and believed the result could have been different had the top order batted better, reports Cricinfo.
Ashraful averages 22.92 from 51 Tests, and his 101 against Sri Lanka in December 2008 is his only 50-plus score in more than two years.
"There is definitely a lot of pressure on Mohammad Ashraful," Siddons told Cricinfo Friday.
"He knows that he has been very inconsistent and we have talked about it. In that regard, he is very lucky to be still in the team but unless you find someone else, someone better, to replace him, he will play. After all, it wasn't long time back that he hit a hundred against Sri Lanka. I hope he scores in the second Test and inspires the whole team."
National selector Akram Khan had earlier said that they were forced to play Ashraful in the past because of the lack of seniors but Siddons wasn't convinced about that reasoning.
"I have never been a fan of playing players just because of experience. You need to perform," Siddons said.