Bangladesh and West Indies urge attack in 2nd test
Posted November 29, 2018 3:45 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
DHAKA, Bangladesh — To beat West Indies in the second test for a first series victory in nine years against anyone apart from Zimbabwe, Bangladesh’s first instinct must be to attack, says captain Shakib Al Hasan.
The last test of the brief series begins on Friday. The first was won last Saturday in three days, as Bangladesh defended 204.
“We won’t be there to play a defensive game, just because we have the lead in the series,” Shakib said on Thursday. “But if the situation demands to play for a draw, then it’s OK. But the primary target is to win the match.
“We shouldn’t let thinking of winning the series 1-0 occupy us anyhow. We don’t want to win the series, playing the defensive way. We want to go with a positive frame of mind and win it by 2-0.”
Shakib warned his side not to feel complacent, predicting a backlash from the West Indies. He stressed the need to improve their performance.
“The West Indies will be excited to do better in this test,” Shakib said. “They will put all their strength in to win. So we have to be careful. We have to be tough physically and mentally. Above all, we need to surpass the performance of the first test.”
The West Indies’ vulnerability against spin was exposed in Chittagong in the first test as Bangladesh’s four-pronged spin attack took all 20 wickets to dismiss the visitors for 246 and 139.
Another spin-friendly track in Dhaka is expected, and West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite urged his side to stay positive.
“Staying positive on this type of wicket is key,” he said. “The bounce varied a lot in the first test and even myself could have gone forward. The onus is on ourselves to trust our defence and attacking methods.
“The key is to be light on your feet, and treat each ball as it comes. We need to be clear in our mind how we are going to do it. I definitely believe we can do it.”
He didn’t believe his side was under pressure of losing the series against Bangladesh for the first time since 2009, when West Indies used a team weakened by the absence of first-choice players following a pay dispute with their board.
“We are not under pressure. We know what we have to do,” Brathwaite said. “We have to look to draw the series. The top five must put on partnerships to help us win.”
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