...for Mohammad Ashraful.
Ever since becoming the youngest man in test history to score a hundred when he hit 114 on debut against Sri Lanka in Colombo, Ashraful was considered Bangladesh's most talented batsman. Until Tamim Iqbal came along that is.
Since his stunning debut there have been the occasional flashes of brilliance such as an unbeaten 158 against India in 2004. But the overwhelming sensation has been one of intense disappointment as an obvious talent fails to live up to his initial promise. His pre-Lord's average of 22.78 from 53 tests goes some way to explaining the burst blood vessels on the face of the combustible Bangladesh coach Jamie Siddons.
Sky reminded us how talented Ashraful could be when during the time before the eventual rain delayed start they showed the infamous Australia-Bangladesh Nat West Series match from Cardiff in 2005. This was the match that Andrew Symonds missed because he had a few too many sherbets the night before. Bangladesh won thanks to a brilliant innings from Ashraful who hit a run a ball 100 to make many an England fan smile ahead of that tumultuous Ashes series.
So when Ashraful came to the wicket yesterday it wouldn't have been a surprise if fate had enabled him to do well. He got off the mark with a lovely square drive, but then got an absolute stinker from umpire Asoka de Silva when he was given out leg before to a ball from Steven Finn that was clearly missing leg.
Ashraful is still only 25, so may yet be able to justify his talent more consistently than he has done to date, but with the luck he had yesterday he could be ducking from flying cricket bats thrown by an irate Siddons for some time to come.
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