Cricket: Underdogs brace for verbal war

By RICHARD BOOCK

Bangladesh have been warned to steel themselves for a verbal barrage during the first test starting at Hamilton tomorrow.

As if being crushed in all but one of their seven tests has not been bad enough for the tourists, some of the players are also struggling to come to terms with the culture of gamesmanship within New Zealand - where a bowler's tactical approach might often include a quiet word in the batsman's ear.

Having lost to Auckland on Saturday by an innings and 193 runs, Bangladesh are under intense pressure as they approach the series opener.

Coach Trevor Chappell said dealing with that pressure in its various guises was essential for the side's development.

"That's something they're going to have to get used to," he said after the team arrived in Hamilton yesterday.

"There's a lot of talking going on out there and it's going to be worse in the tests, so how they deal with that could well be critical.

"A few of the guys were saying the other day that there was a fair bit of talking in the field.

"I don't know what was being said, but they simply have to block all that stuff out and concentrate on what they're doing."

Chappell said the language barrier created a major scope for misunderstanding and also suggested that the Bangladeshis - like the Indians - were unused to the behaviour because it was not common at home.

"Our guys have just got to learn that the chat is designed to distract them from what they're trying to do and that if they allow themselves to be distracted, they're only going to get more of it.

"On the other hand, if they don't get distracted the opposition will shut up and try something else."

Far from having their morale dented by the big loss to Auckland, the players' spirit remained as buoyant as ever, Chappell said.

The players understood they were on a steep learning curve and that Rome was not built overnight.

He recalled how Bangladesh had experienced a fairytale result when they beat Pakistan in the 1999 World Cup, and was certain the players believed in the theory that anything could happen on the day.

"We're moving forward in small steps and I doubt that our progress could even be noticed by anyone outside our group," he said.

"But having been with them for the past nine months I can see the improvement in individuals and the overall operation has picked up as well.

"Within the team, the players know they're better today than they were yesterday and from that point of view they've got a very healthy attitude."

On the flip side, the former Australian international player said his team needed to learn quickly from the efforts of 32-year-old batsman Aminul Islam, who ground out a courageous 79 not out in 267 minutes against Auckland, in the process demonstrating the value of occupying the crease.

"He showed the others that you have to guts it out, fight, get hit and not want to come off, even if you have been struck on the shoulder, or finger, or something. Aminul proved to them that if you stay out there you can be successful."

Bangladesh are expected to make just one change to the side beaten by Auckland at the weekend.

Fast bowler Masharafi-bin-Murtaza will return in place of one of the paceman, possibly third seamer Khaled Mahmud.