Bangladesh banking on batsmen, hoping for draw against Windies

Kingstown (St. Vincent), Sep 4 (IANS/CMC) Bangladesh are banking heavily on their batsmen for good fortunes when they take on the West Indies in a two-match Test series starting here Friday.

Coach Chandika Hathurusingha Wednesday said the batsmen will have to carry the weight of the side since their bowling is “limited”, reports CMC.

Hathurusingha said he is expecting Bangladesh to fight hard to enforce a draw in the first Test at the Arnos Vale Cricket Ground Friday.

"Our realistic goal would be to draw the game," Hathurusingha told ESPNcricinfo.

"If we play well, bat well, we will be in the game. Our bowling stock is limited. We must look to bat deep and bat long, score runs and be in the game."

Bangladesh will be hoping for a better showing after losing the three-match One-Day International (ODI) series to the West Indies.

In fact, the tourists have suffered five ODI defeats since Hathurusingha was installed as coach three months ago.

"We are working hard on the morale," he said.

"It is not an aspect that can be changed overnight. It has to come from our action, not only from the coach and players but from everyone involved in cricket. We are working on that”.

Bangladesh got the better of the West Indies in the last series between the two sides in the Caribbean, back in 2009.

They had comprehensively beaten a weakened West Indies who were suffering a players' strike.

The Bangladesh coach has conceded that his side has significant improvements to make in Test cricket.

"I think we are getting there,” said Hathurusingha.

“We are trying hard to understand our roles and finding the right way to play those roles”.

--IANS/CMC