5 lessons learnt by Bangladesh after the South Africa tour
Over the past few seasons, Bangladesh seemed to have turned a corner as a cricket team. They beat India and South Africa in one-day series, while they held both Australia and England to 1-1 draws in 2 match Test series.
However, all those successes came at home and any hope that they might have had of any kind of overseas success was crushed cruelly in the team's recent visit to South Africa. While no one really gave them a chance of winning any of the series but there were expectations that they would compete in parts.
That was not to be, however, as South Africa outclassed them 2-0 in the two-match series and then proceeded to win each of the 3 one day internationals.
It was in the latter, that there was hope that Bangladesh might compete and perhaps spring a surprise. Two T20Is are yet to be played but the tour is already a forgettable one for the team. So, let's look at some of the lessons that they must have learnt during this tough tour.
5 Bangladesh need to invest in new fast bowlers
They might have appointed one of the world's best former bowlers, Courtney Walsh, as their bowling coach, but Bangladesh's fast bowling personnel have been shocking in overseas tours over the years and the tour of South Africa was no different.
Bangladesh simply do not have the personnel to take wickets away from home and the fact that one of their best medium pacers, Mustafizur Rahman could only take 3 wickets in two Tests, is a grim reminder of their bare bowling resources in Test cricket.
None of the faster bowlers could trouble the South Africans and it seems that Bangladesh need to either change the set up completely to make these bowlers more suited to Test cricket or bring in structural changes with a long-term outlook.
On the other hand, they could give opportunities to younger fast bowlers in Test cricket and see how they fare in the longer formats. The current lot have flattered to deceive.