'The win against Australia brought people together'
Dav Whatmore looks back to the gains from the England tour in an exclusive interview with Cricinfo
Anand Vasu
18-Jul-2005
Exactly a month ago, Dav Whatmore was possibly the happiest man in the cricket world. Bangladesh had just beaten Australia in Cardiff, and the world was singing Mohammad Ashraful's praises. But Whatmore barely had a chance to bask in the afterglow of arguably his team's brightest moment in their short cricketing history, as he had to rush to Melbourne to be with his ailing father. He has just returned to Dhaka, and spoke exclusively to Cricinfo about what the win meant.
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What are the gains from the England tour?
I am obviously looking out for improvement - to see that from series to series the team has improved and is doing as well as it can. Given the circumstances - the conditions in early summer in England - everyone knew it was going to be very difficult to play England in England in May. It proved to be all that and more. Any advantage you might get with the toss doesn't come your way. We started the tour in very tough conditions and it drew a lot of criticism from a lot of people, the media and it was a very difficult time. As we went along we stopped people in their tracks when we beat Australia, and played effectively in most of the one-dayers, and finished the tour on a positive and high note.
I am obviously looking out for improvement - to see that from series to series the team has improved and is doing as well as it can. Given the circumstances - the conditions in early summer in England - everyone knew it was going to be very difficult to play England in England in May. It proved to be all that and more. Any advantage you might get with the toss doesn't come your way. We started the tour in very tough conditions and it drew a lot of criticism from a lot of people, the media and it was a very difficult time. As we went along we stopped people in their tracks when we beat Australia, and played effectively in most of the one-dayers, and finished the tour on a positive and high note.
What about the win against Australia was most pleasing?
The win against Australia helped bring people together in a tremendous way. I have to say, assessing the game honestly, that Australia didn't play that badly. It's just that the Bangladesh team - on that particular day - played better cricket. And that is an honest assessment from what I saw. That was the most pleasing thing.
The win against Australia helped bring people together in a tremendous way. I have to say, assessing the game honestly, that Australia didn't play that badly. It's just that the Bangladesh team - on that particular day - played better cricket. And that is an honest assessment from what I saw. That was the most pleasing thing.
But some people have dismissed it as a one-off ...
It was a one-off if you're looking at it from the point of view of that series. In the big picture, we had a good win against India at home, and followed that up with a very good series against Zimbabwe at home. It depends on how you define one-off. People who have kept a close eye on Bangladesh's performance will know that they are definitely improving.
It was a one-off if you're looking at it from the point of view of that series. In the big picture, we had a good win against India at home, and followed that up with a very good series against Zimbabwe at home. It depends on how you define one-off. People who have kept a close eye on Bangladesh's performance will know that they are definitely improving.
How important is it that almost everyone contributed at some point, and that you did not rely on just one or two players?
The objective is to have everyone contributing at some point. We haven't got any superstars, like say the Indian team. We're in the process of creating those stars. So we need healthy contributions from everyone. Sure, along the way someone will do exceptionally well, and become household names worldwide.
The objective is to have everyone contributing at some point. We haven't got any superstars, like say the Indian team. We're in the process of creating those stars. So we need healthy contributions from everyone. Sure, along the way someone will do exceptionally well, and become household names worldwide.
Will this win against Australia go some way in shutting your critics up?
Most of the criticism does not bother me entirely. There are two answers to this. The first is that the ICC's decision on the future of teams like Bangladesh. We are not going to lose Test status, that is for sure. That's the important thing, I don't care what anyone says if the game's governing body makes the correct decision. The second part is how frustrated you feel when you hear people talk. I do think the win against Australia would have brought a lot of people to an abrupt halt in their thinking of the team and in their dismissing the team. Some of the things I have heard - that Bangladesh would never win a match - will stop. We've beaten the No. 1 team in the world, and that will make a lot of people think twice. So, at the end of the day, it doesn't bother me when people carp on and on, because I know that Bangladesh will be a force to reckon with, in time.
Most of the criticism does not bother me entirely. There are two answers to this. The first is that the ICC's decision on the future of teams like Bangladesh. We are not going to lose Test status, that is for sure. That's the important thing, I don't care what anyone says if the game's governing body makes the correct decision. The second part is how frustrated you feel when you hear people talk. I do think the win against Australia would have brought a lot of people to an abrupt halt in their thinking of the team and in their dismissing the team. Some of the things I have heard - that Bangladesh would never win a match - will stop. We've beaten the No. 1 team in the world, and that will make a lot of people think twice. So, at the end of the day, it doesn't bother me when people carp on and on, because I know that Bangladesh will be a force to reckon with, in time.
Does it also become easier to motivate the team when they've tasted a bit of success?
What happens in a situation like this is that outwardly you hear very positive talk. Not just teams like Bangladesh, but it touches teams all over. Outwardly we speak positively, but inwardly, there are still some voices that you hear, that have words like, "No, no, we can't beat the opposition, they're too good." In many ways this is natural to teams that are perceived to be a lot worse than the opposition. You don't want those negative feelings, and those doubts to creep in. You want to be positive, and have a stronger attitude, and this win will help that.
What happens in a situation like this is that outwardly you hear very positive talk. Not just teams like Bangladesh, but it touches teams all over. Outwardly we speak positively, but inwardly, there are still some voices that you hear, that have words like, "No, no, we can't beat the opposition, they're too good." In many ways this is natural to teams that are perceived to be a lot worse than the opposition. You don't want those negative feelings, and those doubts to creep in. You want to be positive, and have a stronger attitude, and this win will help that.
Anand Vasu is assistant editor of Cricinfo