Skipper Taylor stands firm

Houghton, after he scored a century on his debut as captain on the fourth day of the absorbing tie against Bangladesh yesterday.
Hearts would have been in mouths and spirits rather low at the start of the fourth day’s play when Taylor and Tatenda Taibu resumed their innings but it soon became abundantly clear that the two had a good game plan.
The first half hour of the day was to establish themselves at the crease and only score if there was an out and out long hop or rank full toss.
But, as the day progressed, the confidence seemed to grow and soon enough Taibu had Taylor on his toes as he sprinted between the wickets like a fire engine, turning ones into twos, with clear and decisive calling.
What may very well have put Taibu in good stead was the fact that not one reverse sweep, or switch hit, was played when the spinners were introduced which must have taken a great deal of willpower as he thrives on being adventurous against them, which has led to his downfall on many occasions. Instead, the former captain was quite content to hit them down the ground when over pitched or to cut when short and wide. Maturity is one of the many positives that has made Taylor the player, and now captain, that he is today. This was noticeable yesterday when he was dropped by bowler Robiul Islam when on 74.
Islam had given Taylor a proper verbal tirade leading up to the chance and afterwards had another full go. Had it been a year or two ago, Taylor would have risen to the bait, so carefully prepared, which may possibly have led to him to lose concentration, his wicket as well as some of his match fee. But it was good to see the captain simply turn his back and get on with his innings despite the continued onslaught from Islam.
Taibu’s dismissal after lunch could so easilly have led to a total collapse, disrupting an innings that until then had gone along rather smoothly.
It is fair to say that Craig Ervine has been guilty, on more than one occasion, of going into his shell by not rotating the strike and by generally showing a certain amount of lethagy when occupying the crease as he did in the first innings when he laboured to just runs off 31 deliveries before being trapped in front by Mahmudullah. Second time round was a different story as, from onset, he not only rotated the strike, but looked intent in hitting boundaries in a wonderfully played 36 not out, off just 55 deliveries, which included four fours. His trade mark cover drives and surprising hook shots gave immediate momentum to the innings which also allowed Taylor to up his game as the pair added an unbroken 86 for the sixth wicket to follow the fifth wicket stand of 113 between Taylor and Taibu.
Taylor’s innings also displayed a great amount of skill in the sense that his first fifty came off 117 deliveries and his century off just 170 deliveries, which meant that his second fifty came off just 53 deliveries.
One would automatically assume that his second fifty would have been filled with boundaries but his entire innings only included nine fours which showed his ability to find the gaps in the field which, to be fair, were there due to the position Bangladesh found themselves in. It will also be interested to see if match referee Roshan Mahanama will be assuming the role of headmaster and may possibly slap Bangladesh with some sort of fine for what can only be described as a ridiculously slow over rate with deliberate time wasting tactics. It’s a ploy many teams, which have been on the recieveing end, have used for as long as the game has existed.
But the ICC HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY ARE GOING TO TOUGHEN UP IN CERTAIN AREAS AND SLOW OVER RATES WAS ONE OF THE AREAS MENTIONED.
Brendan Taylor’s cold and courageous decision to declare at tea time took each and every person, with the exception of his players, by surprise.
The general feeling was that another half an hour of run plundering would have got the lead over 400 which, strictly speaking, would have made it safe.
And, so, one has to commend not only the declaration but the will to want to win and not draw.
With another 263 runs wanted to win and seven wickets to be taken, cricket lovers from both countries will be in for a tense and exciting final day.
What a Test match this has been.