Bangladesh vs West Indies: 2nd Test Preview
An all-time great 4th innings chase nullified the hosts’ strong performance in the first test match. Bangladesh’s test team were put to the sword in their own backyard. The West Indies were saved by the pair of Kyle Mayers and Nkrumah Bonner.
The pair put on 216 runs for the fourth wicket and turned the test match on its head. Mayers, on debut, played an innings that he will never forget – 210 not out.
So, with that, let’s start our preview with the West Indies.
West Indies Preview
A first innings collapse would not have best pleased the visitors. They were bowled out for just 259, despite being 253-5. This means that the Windies lost 5 wickets for just 6 runs. The tail provided no resistance and the coach, Phil Simmons will likely be tearing his hair out at this. However, he will hope that the team can improve in such areas going forward and turn this series into a win. In such conditions that favour the hosts hugely, every run that can be churned out is vital.
The experienced players in Kraigg Brathwaite and Jermaine Blackwood will need to score big, in order to provide both top and middle-order stability. Players such as Mayers and Bonner are inexperienced, despite their first test heroics. And, with inexperience comes inconsistency.
Jomel Warrican picked up 7 wickets in the match. He took 4 in the first innings and 3 in the second innings. He bowled well when they toured Sri Lanka as well in 2015 and seems to be a good option in the subcontinent. Cornwall picked up 5 wickets in the match too – 2 in the first innings and 3 in the second innings.
Together, the spin pair must continue their good work because it seems as if it will be difficult for the pace bowlers to inflict real damage to Bangladesh’s test team in these conditions. In the first test, Roach and Gabriel only picked up 4 wickets in 65 overs of fast bowling.
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Bangladesh Preview
Shakib Al Hasan is due to miss the second test match with a thigh injury. This is a massive miss for Bangladesh due to his all-round skills. He did not bowl in the second innings of the game and this may have resulted in Bangladesh losing. There were only four bowlers used and they seemed tired towards the end. There has not been a replacement named yet, which means that the player will likely come from within the squad.
The star for Bangladesh’s test team was Mehidy Hasan. He scored a century in the first innings and picked up 8 wickets in the game. He has been developing very well in home conditions. Mehidy averages 25 with the bat at home and 21 with the ball. He will need to step up even more in the absence of Shakib Al Hasan to lead the spin attack.
Liton Das proved his worth as a wicketkeeper batsman by scoring 38 and 69 in the first and second innings respectively. With Shakib out, he must respond more with the bat and convert such starts into a century in order to put Bangladesh’s test team in a strong position in the game.
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Likely XI’s
West Indies’ Test Team
Kraigg Brathwaite (C) , John Campbell, Sheyene Moseley, Nkrumah Bonner, Kyle Mayers, Jermaine Blackwood, Joshua Da Silva (WK), Kemar Roach, Rahkeem Cornwall, Jomel Warrican, Shannon Gabriel.
Bangladesh’s Test Team
Shadman Islam, Tamim Iqbal, Najmul Hossain, Mominul Haque (C), Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das (WK), Mohammad Mithun / Abu Jayed, Mehidy Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan.
Pitch Conditions
The second test will be played at a different stadium to the first one but the conditions may remain similar. The pitch at Chattogram offered little help for the fast bowlers. The spinners got more out of the pitch but at times it felt as if the pitch was playing well and there was only slow turn.
Expect Dhaka to turn slightly more but overall offer a good batting pitch.
Prediction
Expect Bangladesh to fight back hard, despite missing Shakib Al Hasan and win the second test match, to level the series 1-1.
The West Indies have struggled to build on their recent results in most test series within the past decade and there is no evidence to suggest that this could be any different.
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