How’s that for a nail-biting Test match?
THIS has been a Test to breathe new life into the old cliche about cricket’s glorious uncertainties — whatever way the result goes on the final morning.
After four days of cut and thrust, the equation was simple as the sun set yesterday: England needed two wickets to avoid starting their Asian odyssey in the worst possible manner, while Bangladesh needed 33 runs to complete the greatest moment in their history.
At a venue which allows a distant view of the Bay of Bengal, there has been enough ebb and flow to last England the entire winter. It has been gripping stuff, and a heart-warming vindication of their decision to go ahead with this tour despite security concerns.
The criticism of Tests in the sub-continent has often been that dead pitches play into the hands of batsmen and statisticians. But totals of 293, 248, 240 and — by stumps on the fourth evening — 253 for eight tell their own tale.
No sooner have the odds moved in one direction than they’re swiftly shifting back in the other.
If these are two flawed teams, the upshot has been a match to fly the flag for the oldest format.
Twenty20 may be all the rage but, while we have games like this, Test cricket still has entertainment value.
‘I’ve played 99 Test matches and this would certainly be in my top five nerve-wracking finishes,’ said Stuart Broad, who claimed two wickets on a tense day in Chittagong. ‘It shows how far Bangladesh cricket has come. We’ve been in a big battle.’
England opened the bowling on the fourth morning with two off-spinners, while — in a reversal of the usual wisdom — the slow bowlers have been taking the shine off the new ball for the seamers.
Bangladesh set about their target of 286 with gusto. After England had added an underwhelming 12 runs to their overnight 228 for eight, the hosts hurried to 81 for one by the penultimate over before lunch, at which point Imrul Kayes’ attempted sweep off Adil Rashid ballooned to Joe Root at slip.
A flurry of wickets after lunch seemed to have turned the match towards England. Gareth Batty removed both Mominul Haque and Mahmudullah lbw, and Moeen Ali had Shakib Al Hasan smartly caught behind by Jonny Bairstow.
At 140 for five, Bangladesh were not even halfway to their target. A ninth successive Test defeat by England looked inevitable. However, captain Mushfiqur Rahim and debutant Sabbir Rahman set about demonstrating their side’s resilience and exposing the frailties of England’s spinners. Moeen and Batty had enjoyed bowling to the four left-handers in Bangladesh’s top six, but two right-handers posed a tougher challenge.
Even so, it was a surprise when Alastair Cook replaced Batty only two overs after his dismissal of Mahmudullah, leaving him reliant on Adil Rashid, whose stock delivery ought to have threatened the outside edge.
Yet the captain’s conservative fields betrayed a lack of trust in his leg- spinner. With Rashid offering enough to hit, England managed neither to attack nor defend.
Slowly but surely, the total advanced, and English tempers frayed.
Broad looked ready to combust when Bairstow dropped Sabbir on 34, then expressed his displeasure to square-leg umpire Kumar Dharmasena after being told time was up as he contemplated reviewing yet another lbw.
Tight spells after tea from Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes at least stemmed the scoring, but not until the sixth-wicket stand was worth 87, and the target 59 away, did England strike again.
After being ignored for 33 overs, Batty struck in his first over back, snaring Mushfiqur in the leg trap for 39 and opening up an end for England to attack.
Broad barged his way through, nailing Mehedi Hasan with one that cut back, then also removing Kamrul Islam Rabbi.
With 48 still required, the ball reversing for the seamers, and Sabbir having to farm the strike, the pendulum had swung England’s way again. But Bangladesh rallied with some late runs.
The eventual losers may not regard it as much consolation, but Test cricket has played a blinder these last few days.