Application absent (19 May 1999)

19 May 1999

Application absent

Nizamuddin Ahmed in Essex

Bangladesh coach Gordon Greenidge made an aberration of his usual practice of ducking the press on May 17.

The former Caribbean cricketer opted to appear in post-match press session soon after the 6- wicket defeat against New Zealand at the Chelmsford ground, much to the surprise of Bangladeshi journalists.

At the press briefing, where he arrived ten minutes after captain Aminul

Islam, coach Gordon Grenidge looked distraught because, according to him, the Bangladesh once again failed to apply their cricket knowledge.

Greenidge admitted that Bangladesh performance was not good and said, "there was no reason why the team should not have scored 220-230 runs".

"What was need was application. No body did it. We talk about it every time, but it is forgotten. It was necessary to rebuild the innings after the two wickets fell, but nobody did it. Somebody should have scored fifty on this wicket and batted for fifty overs," said Greenidge in one breath.

Things could have been different if the way they (New Zealand) batted and if we had had 180-200 runs on the board.

"It is for the players to apply themselves on the field. Unfortunately, we do not have ear plugs like the South Africans," he quipped. He conceded that "We have a lot of work to do".

Replying to a question by this correspondent what would be the one-line advice he has for the Bangladesh players before the next match against West Indies, whom he knows well, Gordon said, "Play positive cricket".

A Bangladeshi journalist next to me quipped, "We have heard this same literature many times".

Aminul Islam meanwhile admitted he did not bat well and neither did Akram Khan. Despite the defeat, the Bangladesh captain exuded confidence and said that "we will do well against the West Indies at Dublin".

On the other hand, Kiwi captain Fleming was happy with the win and the "pretty good day" with "two points in the bag". He underlined the 'pretty good job' of his seam bowlers and expressed to do well against their local opponents -- the Australians - in their next match at Cardiff.

The Kiwi captain however praised the efforts of the Bangladeshi bowlers, who he thought "did very well".

"They (two who impressed him) should be interesting on a seaming wicket," was the only accolade Bangladesh could take from the match other than the losers' purse of $3000.

Source :: The Daily Star