"What I saw was not any different from what I thought. It's not easy that what I said all along. They are a good disciplined side and they are going to make us fight every inch along the way," said the Australian while reacting on the drawn three-day match between England and the BCB President's Eleven at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) yesterday.

Michael Vaughan's men, who are here to play two Tests and three one-day internationals, came within one wicket for victory in their first tour match at the BNS on Tuesday.

But Whatmore wanted to look at the brighter side of the drawn encounter where the tourists suffered a stunning middle-order collapse. England lost four wickets without scoring any runs after opener Marcus Trescothick fell at 181.

"These things can happen in any game. So, I don't want to react much into that," said the 49-year-old coach. He however showered some inspiring words for young left-arm spinner Enamul Haque Jr. who inflicted the England collapse and finished with match haul of five wickets.

"Yes, I have seen him bowling in the match. He is a good young prospect. He's got good potential. It's up to him now to really work hard and move ahead with his cricket."

Whatmore was not unhappy with the overall performance of the youthful side mainly consisted of under-19 cricketers.

"There were some very good things to happen but not too much with the bat. But certainly the attitude and keenness of the boys on the field have improved and the way they bowled was very good. I think there was more positive on the field than with the bat," observed the Bangladesh coach after an extensive training session with the national cricketers on the central wicket of the BNS.

Whatmore said that he had enjoyed every bit of the five-hour training under searing heat despite at one stage he took his T-shirt off to let some air get through. He also observed that the wicket at the BNS would be more sporting for the first Test than it had been during the practice game.

"This wicket was prepared on short notice. And because of the rain that led up to the game, the groundsman did not get much time to really prepare it properly. It will be little different I hope."

The only disappointment for Whatmore was the injury of young opener Moniruzzaman, who suffered a nasty cut on his left eye while fielding on the second day of the three-day match.

"It was never very nice that an injury of that sort happened to any player. He was particularly looking forward to show the selectors that he could make runs against a touring team. But unfortunately for him the accident made him unable to bat."

Moniruzzaman was in the minds of the selectors for the series. But the freakish injury has all but ruled him out of having any prospect of making his international debut.