Russell Domingo talked through the side’s batting performance in the ongoing first Test against the West Indies in Antigua, wherein the visitors are staring at a likely defeat going into Day 4.
Bangladesh haven’t had a great start to the Windies tour, with hosts being just 35 runs away from securing a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series. The slump started on the first morning of the Test, with visitors being bundled out for 103 in the first innings, Shakib Al Hasan – the newly appointed skipper – being the lone significant contributor with 51.
There were eight single digit scores in the first innings – six being ducks – three of which came from the top four batters.
They conceded a 162-run first innings lead, and were somewhat revived by a 124-run seventh wicket stand between Shakib (63) and Nurul Hasan (64) in the second innings, after being reduced to 109/6 at one point. However, the former’s dismissal triggered another collapse, which saw them lose the final four wickets for 13 runs, setting WI an 84-run target.
It’s noteworthy that two of Bangladesh’s four innings total in the two-match away Test series in South Africa earlier this season were 53 and 80 – the former being their second-lowest Test total ever.
”It’s not good. In both innings too many soft dismissals and too many poor decisions with the batting and 103 runs in the first innings….could have gotten more than that and 245 in the second innings could have gotten more than that so it’s the bottom line. Too many soft dismissals in this particular Test match.
‘Batters are all low on confidence at the moment. Some of the big players Mominul, Shanto are low in confidence. In cricket, confidence is a big thing and at the moment they just don’t have that confidence in their batting.”
Domingo told reporters after the third day’s play.
Furthermore, the head coach asked for more responsibility from the team’s premier batsmen, including Shakib, to make their starts count for game-setting knocks.
