Bangladesh cricket team live late ex-coach Eddie Barlow's dream
Bangladeshi cricketer Taijul Islam (right) reacts after dismissing Australia’s last man Josh Hazlewood at Dhaka on Wednesday. Pic/AFP
If the Bangladesh cricket team find themselves in a state of bliss after their maiden Test victory over Australia, there is one departed coach who they will not forget to acknowledge — Eddie Barlow.
Apart from coaching The Tigers after taking over from West Indies stalwart Gordon Greenidge in 1999, South African-born Barlow, then, 60, structured Bangladesh's domestic set up. However, in 2000, Barlow suffered a stroke, but he made it to witness Bangladesh's maiden Test – against Sourav Ganguly's India at Dhaka.
The late Eddie Barlow
That would've pleased him
"He would be delighted as he always knew they had the right attitude to win," Cally Barlow, wife of the late South Africa all-rounder and coach told mid-day from Gloucestershire, UK yesterday.
Australia was the best team in the world when Barlow coached Bangladesh. Did the country, which Bangladesh beat by 20 runs in Dhaka on Wednesday figure in Barlow's interactions with the Bangladeshis? "He would never talk about any other country to the team in a way that would put pressure on them. He always told them not to bother about things they had no control over; just to concentrate on what they were going to do to the opposition," said Cally.
Day Four of the Bangladesh v Australia Test could have gone either way. The visitors needed 156 with eight wickets in hand while left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan, who had claimed a fifer in the first innings, was always going to be a threat. Shakib claimed four on the last day including the wicket of centurion David Warner to steer his country to a historic win. Bangladesh had lost all four previous Tests to the Australians.
Cally Barlow
Cally seemed confident of a win over the Australians. "I always believe in Bangladesh and felt that they were in the right place on this occasion. A place in the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy gave them a big boost," she said.
They made the last four of the mega tournament in England thanks to their sizzling display against New Zealand. However, the sixth ranked ODI team lost to India by nine wickets in the semi-finals at Edgbaston.
India have not always had it easy against Bangladesh. On winning the toss in the inaugural Test on November 10, 2000, the hosts were bowled out only after they touched 400. Aminul Islam was one of the many beneficiaries of Barlow's coaching and when he reached his century on the second day of the Test, he looked towards the dressing room to see a paralysed Barlow trying to get up from his wheelchair to applaud him, helped by Cally.
'Emotional time'
"It was a very emotional time for all of us," recalled Cally. "When Bangladesh scored 400 in the first innings I felt sure as did Eddie that Bangladesh would win, particularly when India did about the same. Then, for some reason, the wheels fell off and they lost the game.
"Eddie had is own thoughts as to why this happened. I remember it well. Bulbul (Aminul's nickname) was special and thoroughly deserved his ton." Cally revealed some words of wisdom her departed husband often dished out to the team. "The best advice Eddie gave to them was they had to believe in themselves, to focus on their game (don't pay any attention to chirping), to eat properly (no rice late at night) and to enjoy the game," Cally said.
It's been nearly 12 years since Barlow left for Elysian Fields, but who's to say he was not watching from the great beyond on Wednesday.
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