B’desh like being underdogs, can surprise NZ: Coach
WELLINGTON: Bangladesh coach Steve Rhodes said his charges were relishing being underdogs as they chase a maiden victory over the Black Caps on New Zealand soil on Wednesday.
The tourists have never beaten the hosts in any format during four previous tours to New Zealand but Rhodes said they should not be written off ahead of the first ODI in Napier on Thursday.
“We know it’s going to be very difficult, we’ve got to be realistic,” the Englishman told reporters.
“But we quite like being underdogs. We can surprise a few people and New Zealand know they’ve still got to play some good cricket to beat us.” Rhodes said Bangladesh’s task had been made tougher by the injury-enforced absences of Shakib al Hasan and Taskin Ahmed.
West Indies fast bowler Shannon Gabriel was warned by on-field umpires for using abusive language following an interaction with Joe Root, even as t he England skipper ensured a complete dominance for the visitors on the third day of the third Test in an otherwise disappointing Caribbean campaign, at the Darren Sammy Stadium in St Lucia on Monday.
Root anchored his team to an unassailable position in the final Test, smashing his 16th Test century, remaining unbeaten on 111 of f 2 0 9 del i veri e s hel pi ng England reach stumps at 325 for four in their second innings, an overall lead of 448 runs with two days still available to push for a consolation victory.
England have already surrendered the series and the Wisden Trophy with heavy defeats in the first two matches in Barbados and Antigua.
However, the verbal exchange between Gabriel and Root was the talking point on Day 3 with umpires Rod Tucker and Kumar Dharmasena having a word with Gabriel soon after the episode. According to the Guardian newspaper, Gabriel’s comments were not picked up by stump microphones but Root was heard telling the bowler: “There’s nothing wrong with being gay”.
Root refused to divulge what Gabriel said when asked about the incident at the end of day’s play, saying it should stay on the field. “It’s Test cricket and (Shannon) is an emotional guy trying to do everything he can to win a test match. Sometimes people say things on the field that they might regret,” the report quoted Root as telling reporters. “I don’t want anything said in the middle to ruin what’s been a good Test series for him and his team.
“He’s a good guy who plays hard cricket and is proud to be in the position he is. The battle was a good contest.”
West Indies’ coach Richard Pybus said he was not aware of what transpired but promised to address the issue if anything “untoward” was said.
Root’s workmanlike unbeaten ton included just nine boundaries and typified the tourists’ effort to make amends for previous failures. With the home side short-handed in the bowling department on the day due to an early injury to Keemo Paul, England took full advantage of the situation.
Successive partnerships of 74 for the third wicket with Joe Denly (69), 107 for the fourth wicket with Jos Buttler (56) and 71 so far for the fifth wicket with Ben Stokes (29 not out) ensured that the captain’s steadying influence was ever-present.
GROS-ISLET (SAINT LUCIA):
Brief scores: England 277 & 325 for 4 in 100 overs (Denly 69, Root 111 n.o., Buttler 56, Stokes 29 n.o.) vs West Indies 253.