Tamim takes full responsibility for Bangladesh’s batting collapse in Christchurch

Bangladesh stand-in captain Tamim Iqbal is ready to shoulder the blame for Bangladesh’s poor batting in the second innings of the Christchurch Test.

Henry Nicholls fell agonisingly short of a maiden century but his 98 helped the Kiwis grab a 65-run lead in the morning at the Hagley Oval on Monday.

Bangladesh needed a good start to capitalise on it but Tamim failed to deliver at the top of the order.

With just one fielder near the deep square leg boundary, New Zealand fast bowler Tim Southee mixing up short deliveries with fuller ones. The plan was clear.

Despite the obvious trap, Tamim, on 8, went for a pull and holed out. The Tigers then folded up for 173, leaving the hosts needing a mere 100-odd runs to complete the sweep.

“I got out in a very poor fashion. I could have waited for a bad ball and stayed at the crease for a long time, built partnerships. Things could then have been different,” Tamim later said.

“I am taking full responsibility for this, because I started it.”

“Being the captain, I could’ve led the team by example with my batting. But the way I got out, I don’t think it sends out a good message from the leader.”

This had been the case with all his innings through the tour. He could not stay at the crease long though he looked in fluent touch. In 11 innings, he reached 50 only twice with his best being 59.

“I did not struggle in any innings during the whole tour. Whatever I scored, I played very well, had no problems. But I could not put that to good use, only managed a couple of fifties, forties,” he said.

“But the team expect much more from me. If I had struggled, it would’ve been understandable. But I didn’t, yet could not do well, it was a crime. I myself am responsible for that.”

From the team perspective, Tamim pointed out the lack of dedication in their batting for the repeated failures in the department in each format throughout the tour.

Then again, Bangladesh often put up amateurish show in the field, with a flurry of dropped catches and misfields, and it did not help their cause either.

If anything, the young fast bowling unit might be a point for Bangladesh to pick up as Chandika Hathurusingha’s men prepare to return home after a winless run on their first overseas tour after two years.