Bangladesh V England Test Series 2016

[The Professor]

19 reviews in a game is another level. I reckon that's lost us an hour's cricket.

[bigfluffylemon]

Now time for the usual gripe about attendances. Seriously, watching the highlights reel, there's nobody there. Three quarters of the stands are completely empty.

Saturday of a test match, against a good side, one in which the cricket is exciting, Bangladesh came into the day in the ascendancy, and Bangladesh's first test match in 14 months, and yet they still can't attract even a modest crowd? If you can't get people to watch even under those circumstances, maybe your country shouldn't be hosting tests. Pathetic.

[sussexpob]

Saturday of a test match, against a good side, one in which the cricket is exciting, Bangladesh came into the day in the ascendancy, and Bangladesh's first test match in 14 months, and yet they still can't attract even a modest crowd? If you can't get people to watch even under those circumstances, maybe your country shouldn't be hosting tests. Pathetic.

Great point.

Totally unrelated, but the average wage in Bangladesh is £26 a month. Next time you hear people complain a pint a test in England costs £4, or that a test is poorly attended because people had to drive down a 4 lane M road 2 hours to get there, you might want to remember that.

But yeah. Its pathetic people arent paying a months wage to see a days play

[bigfluffylemon]

Not sure where you got your numbers from but according to Numbeo, the average monthly salary in Bangladesh is around 25,000 Bangaldeshi Taka (after tax), which is closer to 250 pounds per month.
https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/c ... Bangladesh

The cheapest tickets in the stadium cost 50 Bangladeshi Taka for locals, which at the current exchange rate is about 50p.
https://www.shohoz.com/events/banglades ... 2016-10-24
(Yes, this is the official ticketing site, not a reseller).

So it's actually about half a hour's wage, not a month's. And that's an awful lot less in relative terms than a 100 quid ticket to Lord's - the median income in the UK is around 27 grand a year (pre tax).

OK, there is a lot of poverty in Bangladesh, no-one's denying that. But the cost of living is a lot lower. And the crowds didn't seem to worry about coughing up for those oh-so-expensive tickets for the ODIs, which were pretty well attended. In a city of 2.5 million people with the average wage of 250 pounds a month, you'd expect there to be more than 5000 people who could afford 50p for a day's entertainment.

But let's not let the facts get in the way of a good snark.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Someone in the crowd had a banner saying 'we want more cricket in BD'.

Commentators on the radio were saying that the people there were all jammed together in the shaded areas. I saw a shadow from a floodlight, and there were about fifty people just sat in that shade. Presumably they move every few minutes to follow it round the ground.

[bigfluffylemon]

Someone in the crowd had a banner saying 'we want more cricket in BD'.

Commentators on the radio were saying that the people there were all jammed together in the shaded areas. I saw a shadow from a floodlight, and there were about fifty people just sat in that shade. Presumably they move every few minutes to follow it round the ground.

No doubt. I noticed that the shadier areas were busier. But people were only able to do that because the stadium was not very full.

[Arthur Crabtree]

We've got Matthew Hoggard commentating on ITV4, we've had IJLT and MPV with Ed Smith on other days.

The crowd are pretty noisy. Must be someone there.

[Arthur Crabtree]

BD pick a teenager to bowl spin on his debut, and who does well. England recall a 39 year old. And obviously, both could be right decisions, but one feels much more enterprising than the other. Picking Leach might be a comparably progressive choice.

[meninblue]

Saturday of a test match, against a good side, one in which the cricket is exciting, Bangladesh came into the day in the ascendancy, and Bangladesh's first test match in 14 months, and yet they still can't attract even a modest crowd? If you can't get people to watch even under those circumstances, maybe your country shouldn't be hosting tests. Pathetic.

Great point.

Totally unrelated, but the average wage in Bangladesh is £26 a month. Next time you hear people complain a pint a test in England costs £4, or that a test is poorly attended because people had to drive down a 4 lane M road 2 hours to get there, you might want to remember that.

But yeah. Its pathetic people arent paying a months wage to see a days play

Ticket is about 100 Taka per day which is in fact very cheap.

[bigfluffylemon]

About to resume. One way or another this match will be over by the end of today.

Hoping England's tail can push the lead up to 300, but with the new ball due in 4 overs, it's not likely.

[meninblue]

imo Ben has won this match for England. At 273 England are strong favorites to win in my books.

I agree

If India were in similar position to what England is in, i would have already started celebrating victory.

Also like many Indian fans gave title of Sir to Jaddu few years back Sir title would be given to Ben Stokes also.

The difference is, India have several spinners you would expect to cause havoc on this surface, England do not.

Yes, this time Swann and Monty who were five for bowlers are unavailable. However by today there will be many footmarks available for spinners to exploit for generating turn and uneven bounce. Adil Rashid offers variety and imo he will have to be the key bowler in second innings. I haven't watched Gareth bowl yet, so i do not have any comment. Moeen can pick few wickets. Good thing is England have lot of options in spin bowling which will be assisted by conditions.

[meninblue]

Woakes dropped.

[meninblue]

Run out taking a very risky single.

[bigfluffylemon]

[bigfluffylemon]

All out for 240, so Bangladesh need 286 to win. I'm not surprised England didn't last long.

In both innings it has been easier to bat from about the 30th over to 50th, until the ball starts reversing. England need to make inroads with the new ball.