Tony Becca, Contributing Editor
THE SECOND and final Test between Australia and Bangladesh got under way in Chittagong last night local time, and after winning the first Test in Fatullah the visitors, the number one team in the world, are expected to win it and wrap up the series two-nil.
With a little luck, however, Bangladesh, the weakest of the Test-playing countries, could have been one-up in the series, and instead of now fighting to draw it, could have been in with a chance to win it.
Led by a superb innings of 138 off 189 deliveries by Shahriar Nafees, Bangladesh, the underdogs, surprisingly rattled up 427 in the first Test, surprisingly nailed the favourites for 269, and after falling for 148 in their second innings, went close to winning it before, thanks to a fighting 118 not out off 253 deliveries in 367 minutes by captain Ricky Ponting, Australia struggled to 307 for seven, won by three wickets, and breathed a sigh of relief.
DESERVE HIGH PRAISES
Although they failed to win the match and to tick off what would have been the greatest moment in their history, Bangladesh deserve high praise not only for their batting against an attack that included fast bowler Brett Lee and right-arm legspinners Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill, but also and more so for their bowling against the best batting team in the world.
But for Adam Gilchrist, who scored 144 in the first innings, and Ponting in the second innings, Australia would have been embarrassed, really embarrassed, and they would have been embarrassed not by a set of seamers, but by Mohammad Rafique - the left-arm spinner who returned figures of five for 62 off 32.2 overs and four for 98 off 38.
Bowling around the wicket, between the umpire and the stumps, Rafique humbled the usually arrogant Australian batsmen - so much so that on the final morning he and Emanuel Haque Jr, another left-arm spin bowler, had the Aussie batsmen pushing and plodding in search of the spinning ball, going back hurriedly in desperate attempts to keep out well-disguised straight and quicker deliveries.
It was spin bowling at its best - spin bowling that pressured the Australian batsmen to the extent that the television cameras showed even Ponting, the great Ponting, in deep concentration, gritting his teeth in grim determination, and mopping sweat from his brow.
It was also spin bowling that once again underlined the importance of spinners in cricket, spin bowling that almost led Bangladesh to a surprising victory over Australia, and spin bowling that, hopefully, will influence the West Indies selectors when next they meet to select the West Indies team - and particularly so for a Test match.
Right around the world, cricket teams, including Australia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, South Africa and England, number at least one spin bowler in their attack.
TOKEN SELECTION
But for the token selection of one every year or so for one Test match, not so, however, the West Indies - the team that is listed below all seven at number eight in the Test rankings, the team that consistently parades opening batsman Chris Gayle as an offspinner.
As bad as things are, Bangladesh should not be setting the pace for the West Indies.
This time, however, the West Indies can learn from Bangladesh. Rafique's performance against Australia at Fatullah should encourage the Windies selectors to fully expose their spin bowlers and to give them the same opportunity to develop as they have been giving a set of average of pace bowlers one behind the other, Test match after Test match.
If they fail to do so - to expose and to develop their spin bowlers - not only will the West Indies continue to lose to Australia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, South Africa and England until they find another awesome quartet of fast bowlers, but it also may not be long before, after losing to Bangladesh, they will be looking up to Bangladesh.
