really got a great handle on everything that theyre wanting

The buzz surrounding Bangladeshs two-match Test series against England is yet to wear off but the decoration at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, the home of Bangladesh cricket, has already changed to T20 colours. This was inevitable due to the schedule but the quick shift of attention on this occasion seemed jarring.Thats because arguably for the first time since their inaugural Test 16 years ago, Bangladesh has been competitive in a Test series against a major team. The 1-1 result could have been even better for the home side had they overcome tight corners in the Chittagong Test but in Dhaka, they finally beat a team ranked much higher than them.While the players involved will enjoy at least couple of days off, they will soon return to the hectic world of the Bangladesh Premier League, which is designed to swallow up attention spans, airwaves and column inches in the country. The win over England, a seminal moment in Bangladeshs cricket, will not be given the rightful time to sink in, and be reflected upon.The general apathy towards Test cricket has been around for a very long time, and much of it is due to better results in ODI, which was already a format highly relatable with the public due to Bangladeshs historic proclivity towards one-day cricket.It has also partly caused a disconnect between the BCBs protection of Test status and its efforts to keep Tests as the primary format for the Bangladesh team. The BCB has vehemently opposed the idea of a two-tier Test system, and whenever discussions surrounding this proposal have come up, the board has successfully wiggled out of it.In early 2014 a working group of the Finance & Commercial Affairs committee of the ICC proposed that teams ranked Nos. 9 and 10 (Bangladesh at the time) play in the Intercontinental Cup from 2015, but it was an idea that was ultimately shelved along with many other proposals of the Big Three era. The BCB also opposed the two-tier structure, which was discussed this year at the ICC, and ultimately prevailed after the plan was shelved once again. But its opposition in board meetings hasnt necessarily contributed to an attitude towards giving the team more Tests.The latest gap, which lasted more than 14 months, was the teams longest period without a Test match. While it is true that Australia postponed their two-Test series in October 2015 due to security fears, and Bangladeshs first-ever Test in India was moved from August this year to February 2017, the BCB also shelved plans to play Tests against Zimbabwe in November last year, January this year and even after the World T20 in March.Scheduling around the Under-19 World Cup was given as one of the reasons for the postponement of hosting Zimbabwe but the BCB generally prefers to play the format of the ICC event in the lead-up. So after playing three ODIs and two T20s against Zimbabwe in November last year, Bangladesh played against the same opposition in four more T20s in January so that they were in the groove for the subsequent Asia Cup and World T20.Previously, Bangladeshs longest stretch without a Test was exactly 14 months (from June 4 2010 to August 4 2011), while there have also been gaps of 13 (once), seven (twice) and six months (three times). Before the 2007 and 2011 World Cups, Bangladesh put all their focus on ODIs, which for the first instance was reasonable because they had a poor 2003 tournament in South Africa. But ahead of the 2011 World Cup at home, postponed Tests against New Zealand were hardly given a thought because of a 4-0 victory in the ODIs.Most teams schedule more ODIs before a 50-over World Cup but Bangladeshs focus shifted away from Tests in 2000 - when they gained Full Member status - to ODIs by 2006 mostly due to the lack of progress in the longer format during this period. Their only series win was against Zimbabwe at home in 2005, and only after they had lost most of their top players, and the next wins came against a third-rate West Indies side in 2009. Beating Zimbabwe in Harare back in 2013 was perhaps their most well-earned win, given how they had to bounce back from a massive defeat in the previous game; another notch in their belt was drawing against Sri Lanka in Galle that same year. But these are slim pickings for a Test nation that promised much in the beginning.What has also been frustrating of late is the absence of A-team tours, which has disappointed many in the Bangladesh team management. If they had been arranged, then Test specialists like Mominul Haque and Taijul Islam could have been in touch with top-quality cricket. Instead, they had to rely on long net sessions and some domestic first-class matches in the build-up for England.Even for the Test series against New Zealand, Bangladeshs preparation would entail four weeks of BPL followed by a ten-day camp in Sydney and then three ODIs and three T20s in New Zealand. Then they play the one-off Test against India after which a tour of Sri Lanka with Tests and ODIs is also being discussed before they head into the Champions Trophy. Even afterwards, there will be a push for ODIs as they would also like to ensure automatic qualification to the 2019 World Cup, though the BCB president Nazmul Hassan has suggested that is already within their grasp.Bangladesh cricket has a lot on its plate in 2017, with more focus on ICC events like the World T20s as well as in the home front where the BCB elections are knocking at the door. Test cricket will continue to have less attention but if they are really interested to get better at it, perhaps proper succession planning is the answer. It should include four-day matches against Afghanistan and Ireland, which sounds unsexy but even if Bangladesh A play the games, they would get opposition that is better than the fare at the domestic level.The talk of two-tier Test cricket will not die down any time soon so if Bangladesh wants to keep itself relevant as a Test-playing nation, focusing solely on keeping their status wont be enough. 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(STATS) -- While the FBS is littered with conference title games, the FCS is nearly void of them.Sam Houston State and Central Arkansas are having one anyway.Its an unofficial, de facto Southland Conference championship game Saturday when the top-ranked Bearkats (10-0, 8-0) host the No. 11 Bears (9-1, 8-0). While the only league with a true title game is the SWAC, Southland schedule makers must be pinching themselves because its been 28 years since two teams with perfect conference records played for the championship in the final week.If were in the top five in the country, then Central Arkansas should be in the top five in the country because its like looking into a mirror, Sam Houston State coach K.C. Keeler said.Both teams are headed to the playoffs regardless of the result, but theres still plenty on the line -- besides just a conference crown.Keelers squad can make a big statement to the FCS selection committee after cruising through a weak schedule and never really being challenged. SHSU won every game by at least 13 points behind an unstoppable offense led by likely Walter Payton Award candidate Jeremiah Briscoe. The Bearkats average of 53.7 points is best in the country, about a touchdown better than second-place Ohio State, and so is their average of 592.4 total yards.A team with no discernible weaknesses, Central Arkansas coach Steve Campbell said. Very strong, and theyre at the top of the statistics nationally in many, many categories. Offensively, in about every category.Theyre not at the top, however, in the selection committee rankings. The Bearkats are only No. 5 on that list while the Bears are No. 7. The top eight seeds receive first-round byes, so its very possible the loser Saturday wont get one.A defeat would crush SHSUs hopes of earning one of the top two seeds, which receive home-field advantage through the semifinals. Thats a very real and important possibility for a Bearkats team which is 37-2 at home since the start of 2011.The Bears, on the other hand, have been road warriors. Theyve won nine straight away from home, including a 5-0 record this season which includes a win over FBS foe Arkansas State and a 35-0 thrashing of defending conference champion McNeese. In fact, Central Arkansas four road wins over FCS schools have all been by at least 20 points, so it wont be scared going into Bowers Stadium.While SHSU was the preseason favorite to win the conference, the Bears were picked to finish third, but it was hard to see this coming after the Bears lost in Week 2. However, that defeat was to a Samford team which now resides at No. 18 in the STATS FCS Top 25, and Central Arkansas has recovered to win eight in a row.The Bearkats havent facedd anyone of that caliber.dddddddddddd They didnt have to play the Southlands third-place team, Southeastern Louisiana, while the Bears whipped the Lions by 30 points on the road.Sam Houstons only non-conference wins were against Division II Panhandle State and sub-.500 Texas Southern. Central Arkansas, meanwhile, lost by only six to Samford and defeated an Arkansas State team which is tied for the Sun Belt Conference lead.For the most part, weve been very dominant, but its great to have a phenomenal opponent, Keeler said. We are playing one of the best teams in the country this weekend. So I think for both of us its a big ballgame, an opportunity to move up.Central Arkansas ranks among the FCS top 10 defensive teams, allowing 16.8 points and 300.7 yards per game. The Bears are No. 1 against the run -- in FCS or FBS -- at 67.8 yards per game.However, theyre not as good against the pass, and no offense passes better than the Briscoe-led Bearkats.No one in all of college football has more touchdown passes than Briscoes 45, and he has only seven interceptions in 377 attempts. The FCS top-rated passer has thrown for 3,665 yards -- good for third among quarterbacks in both subdivisions -- and hes been sacked just seven times.Tremendous poise in the pocket, he knows where he wants to go with the football, Campbell said. Hes got great awareness, he never gets rattled. Hes a very, very calming presence, and they play a fast-tempo offense. Hes really got a great handle on everything that theyre wanting to do. Outstanding football player.He could be a big problem for a Bears defense which just allowed 340 yards passing last week to Nicholls freshman Chase Fourcade and gave up 424 to Arkansas States Justice Hansen. Each of those signal-callers had only one other 300-yard game all season. The best quarterback theyve faced is Samfords Devlin Hodges -- the FCS eighth-rated passer -- and he picked apart the Bears for 282 yards and three touchdowns.Central Arkansas employs a balanced offense, throwing and rushing for more than 2,000 yards apiece, as junior quarterback Hayden Hildebrand has had a solid season with 15 touchdowns through the air and four on the ground.Keeping up with the Bearkats -- on their home field, no less -- is a different animal altogether. Then again, maybe the Bears defense is the one which can keep that scary offense in check.Defensively, they just fly to the ball, Keeler said. Steve has done a phenomenal job there. Theyve gotten better every single year. I think this is their best team, and this is one of best defenses Ive seen. ' ' '