ESPNcricinfo
Bangladesh are on their way to New Zealand for a six-week tour, which starts with a long quarantine, followed by three ODIs and three T20Is. They have just lost a home Test series to West Indies, which has expectedly attracted widespread criticism. Head coach Russell Domingo understands the situation, and feels an overhaul of the Test culture, by making the players appreciate the importance of the format, is the need of the hour.
“We are a long way off where we need to be in Tests, it is obvious. We have to change the culture of the Test team. We have to make sure that we have a group of players who are hungry to play Tests, skilled to play Tests, and have the fight that's required to guts it out for five days. It is the big challenge for us,” said Domingo.
“We know there's a lot of disappointment losing the series against West Indies. It is a good wake-up call for everybody to show how far back we have fallen in Tests. Guys will say that they have won in the past but those were one-off Test wins. They haven't won a major Test series yet. There's a lot of work to do in the Test format.
I see it as a great challenge as a coach and management to ensure our Test cricket improves. For me, it's the No. 1 format, but trying to get the players to understand that is the biggest thing. Just an appreciation of the Test-match format is a big challenge for players to try to get their heads around,” added Domingo.
Everyone was very disappointed with the performance. We know in the first Test we dominated for four days and made some bad decisions on day five. We didn't play well at all in the second Test. We have an opportunity now to rectify that in New Zealand, and do something no Bangladesh side has done before in New Zealand, and that's winning the series. We will try our utmost to do it. It is going to be a tough ask,” he concluded.
