Prince laments Bangladesh's poor batting

DHAKA - Batting Coach of Bangladesh Ashwell Prince

lamented the side's poor batting that took them on the verge of a defeat in
the second Test in Christchurch.

  The Tigers, fresh from their epic victory in the first Test, were bowled
out for just 126, responding to New Zealand's mammoth 521-6 declared in the
first innings on day two.

  According to Prince, Bangladesh batters were not decisive enough in
whatever they wanted to do while batting. All of the top five batters got our
in single-digit figures in the swinging condition of Hagley Oval in
Christchurch. In fact apart from Yasir Ali Rabbi and Nurul Hasan Sohan, no
one could reach double digit figure.

  Yasir hit his maiden Test 50 in his only third Test before being out on 55
while Sohan scored 41. They combined for a 60-run for the sixth wicket to
help Bangladesh propel past 100, which looked unlikely after they were five
down for 27 runs.

  "Yasir was solid in defence. He was decisive in attack. I think it is that
type of a pitch. You have to leave the ball with confidence. You have to be
decisive playing a defensive or an attacking shot. The keyword is decisive
with whatever option you will be taking," Prince said after the day's play.

  "At tea time, we identified the pitch was quite good for batting. There was
value for shots off the surface. The outfield was nice. If we could hang in a
little bit, we could get a partnership going. The movement happened a bit
quicker off the surface today. I was comfortable thinking some of the balls
would go past the outside edge. It is normal for these conditions."

  He went on to saying: "Sohan played positively. Came forward nicely at the
bowlers. He got his front foot out of the pitch of the ball. He got his
weight over the ball. Yasir, only playing his third Test, was unlucky caught
down the leg-side at the Mount. He applied himself well in that game and
today as well."

  Prince said there were few balls to be left which Bangladeshi batters
couldn't do.

  "I thought we could have left a few more balls today. Hopefully tomorrow we
can get off to a good start. I think we can leave a few more balls outside
off stump to make them bowl straighter at us," he remarked.

  But he still believes Bangladesh batters would show more resolve in the
second innings, which they would start tomorrow if New Zealand enforce
follow-on on them.

  "Of course we're disappointed [with the top five in the first innings]. It
was a massive effort last week. We played 173 overs against a quality bowling
attack. I think it is fair to say that we expected New Zealand to come back
with a lot more urgency in this game. If you compare the two games, you can
see that it is really difficult to fight your way back, even if you are the
No. 1 team," he added.BSS