The familiar narrative of Bangladeshi batting frailty continues to unfold in Colombo during Day 3 of the second Test match against Sri Lanka, leaving fans and pundits alike questioning the team's long-standing struggles in Test cricket.
Day Three saw Sri Lanka consolidate their commanding position, posting a formidable 458 all out and securing a massive 211-run first-innings lead over Bangladesh's initial 247. By stumps on Day Three, Bangladesh's second innings offered little solace, reaching 115 for 6 from 38.4 overs, still trailing by 96 runs and facing the grim prospect of an innings defeat.
The well-worn argument of a "pitch improving for batting" rings hollow when one side limps to a sub-250 total, while the opposition piles on runs with apparent ease on the very same surface. This isn't merely a Day Two anomaly; it's a recurring nightmare for Bangladesh in the Test arena. The notion of a magical transformation of the wicket only when the opposition bats is, frankly, a flimsy excuse. Pathum Nissanka's magnificent 158, Dinesh Chandimal's fluent 93, and Kusal Mendis's blistering 84 all serve to highlight Bangladesh's profound batting shortcomings. The pitch clearly offered opportunities, as evidenced by Sri Lanka's dominant display, yet the Bangladeshi batsmen fundamentally lacked the application, patience, and mental fortitude to capitalise.
For a nation that recently celebrated its 25th anniversary in Test cricket, the inability to consistently construct substantial innings remains an embarrassing Achilles' heel. The constant collapses, the failure of batsmen to convert promising starts into match-defining scores, and the apparent helplessness against even marginally better opposition on 'improved' tracks, speak volumes. It's not the pitch that changes; it's the mindset and technique – or rather, the glaring lack thereof – that plagues Bangladesh's batting when the stakes are high.
Bangladesh's second innings further underscored their batting struggles. Shadman Islam departed for just 12 (24 balls), caught by Igalagamage off Jayasuriya. Anamul Haque endured another failure, dismissed for 19 (19 balls), caught by a substitute fielder off AM Fernando. Mominul Haque contributed 15 (33 balls) before being caught by PHKD Mendis off de Silva. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was trapped leg before by de Silva for 19 (48 balls), and the experienced Mushfiqur Rahim was bowled by Jayasuriya for 26 (53 balls). Mehidy Hasan Miraz added 11 (16 balls) before being adjudged leg before to Ratnayake. At the close of play, Litton Das remained unbeaten on 13 (39 balls), fighting a lone battle.
While Bangladesh's bowlers toiled hard, eventually wrapping up the Sri Lankan innings on Day Three after picking up just two wickets on Day Two, the damage was irreversible. No bowling attack, however talented, can consistently win Test matches when their batsmen fail to provide them with a competitive total to defend.
The time for convenient excuses about changing pitch conditions is long past. Bangladesh is in dire need of a brutally honest assessment of its fundamental batting shortcomings. Until they address the core issues of consistency, conversion, and mental resilience, these 'improved pitches' will continue to expose their deepest frailties, leaving fans frustrated and the Test team languishing in mediocrity.
