by I've seen worse says Waugh
Steve Waugh can think of some batting line-ups worse than the Bangladeshis
who succumbed by an innings and 98 runs in the second cricket Test here
today.
"I think their batting was a lot better than some West Indies efforts in
recent years and they were better than Pakistan in Sharjah last year," Waugh
said after the match.
Bangladesh, while losing both Tests by an innings to Australia to take their
record to 20 losses and a draw from 21 Tests, earned an admirer in Waugh.
Asked if critics needed to reassess Bangladesh after the Tigers made 295 and
163 to Australia's 4(dec)-556, Waugh said: "I think they (critics) need to
be fair - it's easy to write off a side because they lost by an innings but
they will improve. They have got a lot of talent."
Waugh said his side was stunned when Bangladesh progressed to 1-150 on the
first day.
"Day one was a good performance, we expected three or four wickets at least
so to be one for 150 on a wicket that was doing a bit was quality batting.
"They were positive, their body language was good, they took some balls on
the body ... they're on their way."
He admitted his bowlers were guilty of bowling short of a length in the
first innings and had to "change their mindset" in order to get on top of
the tourists.
Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore was pleased with improvement shown by his
side.
"We stretched the game out to a day longer than we did in Darwin so that's a
way of looking at it - I thought there was definite improvement," Whatmore
said.
"At one for 150 on the day most people might have been surprised ... and to
get 295 was excellent."
He said the future - starting with a Test series against Pakistan after the
one-dayers against Australia - looked bright.
"Maybe against other opposition in the future it might be just that little
bit easier and we can progress."
Whatmore said Stuart MacGill's *** bowling performance of 17 wickets
for the series was a result of his batsmen focusing so *** keeping out
pace bowlers they relaxed against MacGill.
"We didn't apply the same amount effort against the slower bowler as we did
against the quicks."
Bangladesh captain Khaled Mahmud denied suggestions his team was more
interested in posing for photos with Waugh than getting him out.
"When we are on the ground we are rivals but off the ground we have guys who
have liked Steve Waugh for a long time and that's personal but when we are
playing we fight hard." (The Age)