In white ball cricket, Bangladesh-Sri Lanka spread excitement in both formats. Red ball cricket and test series starts on Friday. Even though the format has changed, the two teams who have become eternal rivals will not be able to say that the thrill will spread even in the elite format of cricket. The first of the two-match Test series will be played at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
Bangladesh has improved a lot in this elite format of cricket in recent times. The challenge in front of Bangladesh at home is to maintain that consistency. Nazmul Hossain Shantar’s team will enter the field on Friday with the aim of doing something great. Gazi Television and T-Sports will telecast the match live from 10 am.
It has been taken for granted over the past few years that Sri Lanka-Bangladesh matches are fiercely contested. Be it on the field or off the field. Ever since Angelo Mathews was timed out in the last World Cup, the tension between the two teams has been spreading widely. The issue has returned in the last two series. The Sri Lankan team celebrated the timed out after winning the T20 series in Sylhet. Mushfiq Rao took that revenge in the ODI series in Chittagong. This time they are going to enter the field in the Test series with equality in celebration.
Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva announced that he will bring back the celebration if he wins the Test in Sylhet, ‘We will see after winning. Our aim is to win the Test series. And we are optimistic about this. It’s not about the conditions, it’s about how you play. We are also in good rhythm. It looks like there will be a green wicket; Will see again tomorrow. But so far it seems like a green wicket.’
Bangladesh have not lost a Test series in 2023 after a 2-0 Test series loss to India in 2022. They will want to keep the record of being unbeaten in their first Test series in 2024 intact. Bangladesh won both of the three series last year. Despite winning the one-match Test series against Ireland and Afghanistan, the two-match series against mighty New Zealand was tied 1-1. Bangladesh’s improvement in this format is spot on from last year’s performance. The series against Sri Lanka will be Shanta’s first assignment as regular captain in his new role. It is expected that Bangladesh will show dominance in this format under his leadership.
But the statistics put the Lankans ahead. Bangladesh have played a total of 24 Tests against Sri Lanka so far. Bangladesh won only one of them. The first and last win came against the Lankans in their 100th Test in Colombo in 2017. The remaining 18 have been losses and five Test draws.
Before the start of the test in Sylhet, the wicket analysis is also going on. Usually, when playing Tests at home against teams from outside the subcontinent, spin-friendly wickets are Bangladesh’s first choice. But Bangladesh does not want to walk this path with the parties of the subcontinent. Because, teams like Sri Lanka also have several good quality spinners. That’s why playing against them on spinning wickets is quite risky.
As far as is known, the Sylhet wicket has green grass. Now the question is, Bangladesh will play with four bowlers or five bowlers. If you play five bowlers, you will see three pacers and two spinners. On the other hand, if 4 bowlers play, Bangladesh will have to field with two pacers and two spinners. Shariful is with Khaled Ahmed in the XI. However, the left-handed pacer did not practice on Thursday. He has some pain in his back due to the long game. There is some doubt about him. In the end, if Shariful is rested in the first Test, the two young cricketers may make their debut with Khaled. But one’s Abhishek is that much certain. Mushfiq Hasan did not play despite getting a chance in the Test team earlier. However, pace star Nahid Rana has come to the team for the first time.
Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingh is clear that Bangladesh will enter the field with 3 pacers. But his eyes are on the two young cricketers. In the press conference, Hathurusinghe said, ‘We can add two or three jockeys (pacers) in the XI. All of them are enthusiastic and promising for Bangladesh. 140 km. Can bowl at pace. But they are all young, strong. The two started well in first-class cricket. They bowled a lot. I look forward to seeing either of them in this match. Maybe both of them.’
Even if there is grass on the wicket, the role of the spinners will be correct. So there is a strong possibility of seeing Taijul Islam, Mehdi Hasan Miraj in the XI. Bangladesh’s batting is more of a concern than bowling at the moment. Liton Das Sada Ball has been out of form for several days. So he was dropped in the last ODI. However, he returned to the Test team and practiced hard on Thursday. Hathurusingha was seen doing extra work with him. Meanwhile, Mushfiqur Rahim has been knocked out with a finger injury. He is an important cricketer of Bangladesh in the middle order. Tawheed Hriday got a chance instead. The young batsman also has a strong chance of making his debut.
Despite missing Mushfiqur, Hathurusinghe said it is a great opportunity for the youngsters. He believes that young cricketers will be able to use the opportunity, ‘We will miss Mushi’s experience. It’s hard to find an alternative to this kind of experience. At the same time we have to support the young players. Heart has joined the team. There are also two young batsmen – Dipu and Sadman. These are exciting times for Bangladesh cricket. I will tell them, they should grab these opportunities with both hands.’
#Waiting #exciting #fight #red #ball