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PORT ELIZABETH: Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo returns to his roots as his team seek to revive their fortunes in the second Test against South Africa starting at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on Friday.
Domingo made his reputation as coach of the Warriors franchise team, based in the city previously known as Port Elizabeth, where he was born and raised. His success with a team lacking the financial resources of most of their rivals led to him becoming assistant and then head coach of South Africa before he took on the Bangladesh job.
Bangladesh have never played a match in Gqeberha but if anyone knows what to expect from the St George’s Park pitch it is Domingo. What is in doubt after Bangladesh’s 220-run defeat in the first Test in Durban, though, is the degree to which the senior players are prepared to take Domingo’s advice.
Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque chose to send South Africa in to bat in Durban despite it being known that conditions favoured batting first. This was borne out when both teams struggled in the second innings, with Bangladesh crumbling to 53 all out against the South African spin duo of Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer.
Domingo hinted at disagreement in the dressing room when he told the media after the first day in Durban that Bangladesh “lacked confidence” to bat in conditions which might help fast bowlers early on. “It’s something we’re trying to address as a coaching team,” he said.
Domingo’s words were given added meaning when Bangladesh cricket president Nazmul Hasan told the Cricbuzz website that senior players had gone against the advice of Domingo and fellow South African, bowling coach Allan Donald, that it would be difficult to bat second in Durban. The pitch in Gqerberha is known for low and slow bounce, with spin likely to play a role, even if it is unlikely to offer as much help to the spinners as Durban.
Bangladesh have a selection quandary with fast bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam having returned home with injuries and all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan again unavailable. Off-spinner Mehidy Hasan bowled 75 overs in Durban and was unlucky to take only three wickets in each innings.
Bangladesh will have to decide whether to provide spin back-up for Mehidy in the form of left-armer Taijul Islam, or to pick one of Abu Jayed or Shohidul Islam, the other fast bowlers in the touring squad. Opening batsman Tamim Iqbal missed the first Test because of illness and his likely return will strengthen the batting line-up.
Bangladesh were competitive for most of the first four days in Durban but the second innings debacle, together with complaints about the umpires and South Africa’s alleged ‘sledging’, suggested at least a fragility in their resolve.
South Africa, missing five players contracted to Indian Premier League teams, were not entirely convincing but are unlikely to consider major changes.
ELGAR DEFENDS SOUTH AFRICA
Elgar on Thursday defended his team against allegations of “unbearable sledging” during the first Test. He said the Bangladesh players needed to “harden up” if they wanted to play the game at a high level.
Speaking ahead of the second Test, Elgar said South Africa played the game hard but stopped short of swearing or using foul language towards their opponents.
Bangladesh cricket operations chief Jalal Yunus said on Tuesday that his board would make an official complaint to the International Cricket Council about what he described as biased umpiring and the “sledging” of the home team.
“I don’t think they are justified whatsoever,” said Elgar. “We play the game hard (but) if anything we were just giving back what we were getting when we were batting.
“This is Test cricket. It’s a man’s environment when it comes to playing at this level and I intend still to play the game hard.
“We don’t swear or use foul language towards the Bangladesh batsmen because we still respect them. I think they need to harden up and maybe play the game at a level they’re not used to,” said Elgar.
The South African captain said the message to his players was: “We do everything with dignity and we don’t throw our badge or our name away. “I honestly didn’t see any bad sledging out there, even from their side. I just think this is Test cricket and we need to dry our eyes sometimes.” Fast bowler Lutho Sipamla could replace all-rounder Wiaan Mulder, who had a poor match in Durban.
Teams (likely):
South Africa: Dean Elgar (captain), Sarel Erwee, Keegan Petersen, Temba Bavuma, Ryan Rickelton, Kyle Verreynne (wicket-keeper), Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer, Lizaad Williams, Duanne Olivier, Lutho Sipamla
Bangladesh: Mominul Haque (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman Ismail, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das (wicket-keeper), Yasir Ali, Mehidy Hasan, Taijul Islam, Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Shohidul Islam, Abu Jayed.
Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2022
