Ashra-ful of talent- Anand Naik in MIDDAY

Ashra-ful of talent

When a team loses by an innings and 239 runs and yet if the highlight of the match is a knock by one of their batsmen, it is proof enough of his class and potential.

And Mohammad Ashraful proved yesterday that he is not just one of the most promising stars of Bangladesh cricket, but he has the ability to tear apart any opponent.

Bangladesh were already out of the game by the time Ashraful came into bat at 10-3 in the fourth over.

And as he took guard to face RP Singh, his dismissal off the first ball in the first innings would have played heavily on his mind.

“When I went out to bat, I was thinking about the 158 I had made against India last time. I wanted to bat just the way I had then,” Ashraful had said on Saturday.

In December 2004 at the Chittagong Stadium, against an attack that comprised of Irfan Pathan, Zaheer Khan, Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, Ashraful had walked in to bat at 54-3 and blasted his way to an unbeaten 158 off just 194 deliveries.

Though Ashraful could not do it in the first innings, he came very close to repeating his feat yesterday.

Throwing caution to the wind, the youngest Test centurion hooked Zaheer and RP over the ropes and drove them over the covers at will.

His 67 came off just 46 deliveries. As his batting showed skill and ability, his dismissal proved he still needs to mature to be a quality Test cricketer.
“Ashraful’s innings was a touch of brilliance.

But I though it was more akin to a one-day innings,” said outgoing coach Dav Whatmore.

“There is no doubt about his potential but a little bit of maturity will make him a truly great player,” he added.

http://www.mid-day.com/sports/international/2007/may/158241.htm