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Test wins Crucial for home rule

Bishwajit Roy
Successes only add fuel to the desire to see the dream fulfilled. The Tigers' achievement in the just-concluded home series against New Zealand thus
widened the vision. Success has encouraged the cricketers to set a new goal - to perform well away from home. This chorus to widen horizons has been joined by no less a figure than ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who emphasised on the importance of good performances on foreign soil to establish the Tigers as a good, all-round cricket team.
The recent result has doubtless taken the Tigers' to a new height - not only the margin of victory, but the maturity and intensity displayed throughout the series was unprecedented. The performance enhanced their strength in home territory, a trend that finds its roots in the first whitewash over the Kiwis three years ago, followed by their valiant effort in the Asia Cup and the 3-2 ODI series victory against the West Indies in 2012. It is hard to argue now that Bangladesh do not have the goods to beat any team on home soil in the ODI format. Can the same be said, however, of theirTest credentials?
"I don't want to take anything away from our ODI successes at home, but we still have a lot to prove to achieve the tag of a good team at home because the world will ultimately judge you on how you perform in Test cricket. Drawing the Test series was an achievement but it's just the beginning as you have to win Tests against top sides at home," was the answer from former captain turned selector Habibul Bashar regarding
Bangladesh's home strength.
The obvious question was: are we good enough to win a Test?
"This team is good, but to win Test matches the pre-condition is having wickettaking bowlers. You can draw Tests through good batting but to win you have to take 20 wickets. We have a world-class bowler like Shakib who has the ability to take wickets but we need something from the pace bowlers," Bashar explained.
"Pace bowling is a department where we need massive improvement. I don't want to say that our current pace bowlers are bad but you need something extra. The injuries are a problem. But most frustrating is that although we have a lot of fast bowlers in the pipeline for the limited-over format, we do not have that for the longer-version," he continued.
The solution, according to Bashar, was not a new one. "Again, we have to encourage our pacers in domestic cricket. The pacers are most neglected both conditions-wise and payment-wise, so how can you expect more from them?"
Many have questions about the top-order batting but Bashar was optimistic. "True, our top order is yet to be settled but I believe it will not take time to see it so because there is competition, unlike in the pace department. We have experienced players like Junaed Siddiqui, Shahriar Nafees, Imrul Kayes in the reserves, so it’s just a matter of time before we find a settled batting unit," said Bashar.
While success abroad might be touted as the next big step, what is equally important is to form a side that can mount a prolonged defence of the fortress at home. The l igers are en route, but the journey is not yet complete.