espnstar.com's Ayanjit Sen and Rajarshi Gupta take each other head-on over some burning cricketing issues.

Bangladesh’s success in the West Indies

AS: History is created! History is created!

Bangladesh will continue to play the game and may go the Sri Lanka way in the years to come with their ambition.

But, twenty years hence, a Dhaka shop keeper, who worships cricket, will not forget what Shakib's team has achieved.

The win in West Indies It is the first ever series victory overseas.

The West Indian side, on the other hand, is a depleted one but at the end of the day, the players are representing the team and not playing any first-class match.

It is accepted that some of the main Carribean players were cooling their heels somewhere but can we preempt a win for West Indies just because Gayle and Chanderpaul and some others are playing.

And, Bangladesh, it has to be acknowledged, played some good cricket. It is time the world realises their turnover from the word 'potential' to the word 'showcase'.

The Bangladesh players realise that the media coined term of their team causing an 'upset' no longer exists as now the tiger has come out of the cage, ready to take the world head on.

RG: Now seriously, let’s not make too much out of this. Yeah, alright, the Tigers roared somewhat and won two Tests and two ODI’s but look at the opposition. The second run West Indies team was nothing better than a club side, what with skipper Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul missing!

Well, yes, Shakib-al-Hassan has been on fire with the bat and ball but come on, the Windies could not have put up a fight with a Richards (not Viv), Rowlin, Flethcer and Reifer, their skipper who played just two ODI’s before being rushed back into the squad to lose a motley bunch of school-class amateurs. However, you got to give it to Shakib's boys. They made hay while the sun shone.

It is scary to imagine what Fidel Edwards and Jerome Talylor would have done to the Bangla batsmen.

Shakib a better all-rounder than Dwayne Bravo. Beats me, pals!

Bangladesh have a lot to achieve yet. Wow! They are lucky. They next travel to Zimbabwe for a five match ODI series but hang on. What happens when they meet the big boys again? The giant slayers may well be busy bullying the buds but the real test is yet to begin.

Pakistan's ICL recruits are back: Will that help?

AS: But how much is it beneficial for the team? Yes, agree players like Rana Naved-ul-Hasan are welcome inclusions in the team, specially at a time when the Pakistan team needs players like him the most.

The Pakistan team has just been demolished in Sri Lanka during the Tests and their think-tank are moving their hands over their heads trying to find a way out of this shoddy performance.

Inclusion of these players will augment their prospects but to what extent and how much?

At the end of the day, remember, cricket is a team game and it is the team which has to lift up its game and spirit to fight the Lankans in their own den.

And, trust me, people will confront me by saying: Take a look at Abdul Razzak. He came back with a bang.

But, can you say the same for everyone?

RG: The prodigal sons are back. Abdur Razzaq and Mohammad Yousuf have already made strong statements on their return to the national fold after severing ties with the rebel Indian Cricket League. And now, Rana Naved and Imran Mirza find themselves in the thick of things. The two will wear Pakistani colours once again as the team prepares to take on Sri Lanka in a five match ODI series.

The side has gone through a mighty lot over the last couple of years before they stunned the world with the ICC World Twenty20 conquest. Recall, how Razzaq made all the difference after being flown into replace Yasir Arafat in England and how Yousuf rattled a hundred in his first Test after quitting the ICL?

These men have a point to prove and so do Naved and Nazir. Sri Lanka need to be on guard, the Pakistanis are slowly piling up some stock!

The Edgbaston Test will lack drama

AS: The Ashes continue. England have the upper edge and are seated well.

But, remember, as Andrew Strauss, himself suggested, the Australians are known for fight backs.

The Kangaroos are without Brett Lee. Yes, England are also without Kevin Peiterson.

But does it matter? Stalwarts missing - No. Cricketers missing - Yes.

Yes, enough big names are still there in both teams and the crowd will be entertained even though not by a zooming yorker length delivery by Brett Lee or a cracking cover drive from Peiterson.

The English fans will expect another good show from the Strauss-led team while the Aussie supporters will cheer Ponting to make up for the earlier loss and show their mettle out here.

Edgbaston will not lack any drama. Ashes is always Ashes and will always be. Even if the scoreline reads : 4-0 in a five-match series.

RG: No Kevin Pietersen. No Brett Lee. Two stars, two failures and two shockers. KP was expected to lead the England batting charge but did precious little in the two Tests he played, got a surgery on his Achilles’ heels and was ruled out of the remainder of the Ashes. Lee hardly made a difference to the Aussie attack, bewildered and lost as it were.

Nevertheless, these are men of character and would have liked to stick around, more so in fond remembrance of the Edgbaston Test of 2005. All that drama, the emotions and the frenzy will come flashing back to memory once the teams lock horns in Edgbaston on Thursday.

I suspect, this will be a low key affair. Ricky Ponting is crouching with his back against the wall, Mitch Johnson is struggling and England, save Andrew Strauss and Freddie Flintoff, have been ordinary. It’s all a matter of ‘who blinks first’. Forget the sensational action of 2005. This is new age Australia, still finding their feet in the dark and this is the same old England, so sure of shooting themselves in the feet!