Responsibility again on prolific Mominul

Very little is left to be said about the Bangladesh batsmen this year. They have been held predominantly responsible for the repeated failures and ahead of the three-match Test series against Zimbabwe, their closest rival in the game, the spotlight has once again fallen on this weary lot.

Even when they bat in the nets, the focus is on their sudden burst of big hits. All of them do it and from afar, it looks out of place while preparing for a Test match. It has been happening during preparation for this series too, but maybe the eyes subconsciously look for these chinks in their make-up. Or perhaps they do play too many shots in the nets. Has that brought about their downfall?

In 2014, they have put together only one performance worth remembering in Test cricket, when Mominul Haque's hundred against Sri Lanka ensured a draw in Chittagong in February. It came after a dreadful first Test in Dhaka, and afterwards too, the brittle batting has come in the way of recovery, safety and dominance. Often, it has led to that dreaded collapse or a steady disintegration that never looked like being overturned.

A steady development of bad habits caught up with the batting unit, making it malfunction and making 2014 look bad. Only five batsmen have been regulars in the team in the four Tests this year, which means at least two to three have come in and gone out of the XI every game.

Nasir Hossain, Anamul Haque and Imrul Kayes have been casualties after being dropped for poor form, while Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah restored some confidence and esteem with half-centuries against West Indies. Shamsur Rahman can feel lucky to have been picked for one more series. Many Bangladesh batsmen have had their international careers ended for lesser indiscretion than what he did in the West Indies.

Mushfiqur Rahim and Mominul have been the ones feeling good with the bat this year. Mominul is Bangladesh's leading run-scorer in the previous 12 months. He started the 2013-14 season with two centuries against New Zealand, helping Bangladesh to a drawn two-Test series. After his hundred against Sri Lanka paved the way for their third draw in four Tests, he was quietly appreciated. It was hard to fathom that ahead of the first Test against West Indies, which came seven months after the Sri Lanka Tests, there was a strong argument to drop him because of a sudden concern over his ability to handle short-pitched bowling.

He batted well against West Indies without setting the world ablaze - "I didn't play up to my expectations" - but this episode of questioning a batsman of his form and quality illustrates the entire picture of Bangladesh's struggle. Patience within the selection committee, who pick the squad, and the team management, who pick the XI, is evidently quite low, and that must go hand in hand with results on the field.

As the leading run-getter in the team for a period, Mominul naturally has to shoulder expectations which he feels can only be countered by mental strength. He said that his target would be to score more runs. As simple as it may sound, the complexity of Bangladesh's batting can only be untied with runs.

"A big score is a matter of mentality," Mominul said. "It is not about extra responsibility or a challenge. I have done it by scoring three Test hundreds and some runs. If you do something good, people will have expectations. It is my duty to perform. It is not a challenge or extra pressure. I will play as I have done in the past. I will try to do more than what I have already done. I don't really have a personal target. I just want to make more in the second game than what I do in the first."

Mominul said that the team is focused on beating Zimbabwe, and there was a hint of desperation in his words. But he steered clear of any talk of revenge, after the 1-1 draw in the last Test series between the two sides in Zimbabwe.

"We talk among ourselves, to try to work on our shortcomings. We try to find out ways to improve ourselves. The whole team is very focused about this series. Everyone wants to do well. We want to win, and win handsomely.

"There is no talk of revenge. It is better to forget what happened in the past. There's no space for negativity. We are going forward with positive thoughts. We will try to do well in the Tests, one by one. We will try to win every game through day-by-day performance."

For Bangladesh to do well, Mominul will definitely have to fire. His stability will be crucial in a Test series that promises to be closely fought. Whenever he got out against West Indies, chunks of Bangladesh's confidence ebbed away. In a contest which has traditionally been laden with errors, the man who can make the least mistakes will stand tall. If he is given the space he deserves and the time he needs, Mominul has shown he has the ability to prop up the team.