Bangladeshi players can't play long innings: Murali

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Champion spinner Muttiah Muralitharan Saturday said the Bangladeshi players don't know how to play long innings although there are many talented players, reports UNB.
"Bangladesh have many talented players but they don't know how to play long innings. That's the problem. They just don't stay and wait for the loose ball. That's the thing they lack in the Test cricket," he said at a post-match press conference after the 2nd day's play of the Grameenphone Series against Bangladesh at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS) in Dhaka.
Muralitharan, whose five-wicket haul on the day enabled Sri Lanka to reduce Bangladesh to 177/9 in the first innings, thinks that Bangladesh have not learnt much batting-wise, but bowling-wise they are a much improved side. "They got a couple of fast bowlers and the left-arm spinner (Shakib) is also a good bowler," he said.
About his success especially against Bangladesh, the feared Sri Lankan spin wizard said: "Yeah, I think it's because they (Bangladesh) are a little bit inexperienced and the wicket is not good for batting. Always bowlers have the chance, even the fast bowlers and the spinners. It's not easy for the batsmen to play shots here (SBNS)."
Muralitharan claimed 81 wickets in 10 Test matches against Bangladesh including 11 five-wicket hauls.
Asked if there was bounce on the wicket, the 36-year-old veteran replied in the negative. He said: "I don't think it has got the bounce. It's just a normal Bangladesh wicket and it's like the wicket we saw last time in Chittagong and Bogra. Last time, wicket was little better… may be moisture made the difference."
About his own target, the smiling Sri Lankan bowler said he wants to play till the next World Cup but it will depend upon how he performs.
Replying to a question, he said that taking one thousand wickets will not be so easy after having the five hundred wickets. "I am 36. I am getting old. I can't play forever. Ajantha Mendis has come back and has done well also. I think he will take my place," he added.
While commenting on Mendis, he said: "Mendis is totally different. He has all the instincts and he can be the best bowler of the world. He is young and energetic and he wants to take wickets. I think he will be successful in any part of the world and he is going to get a lot of international wickets in future. He is perfectly all right."