With their first-ever home Test triumph over New Zealand, Bangladesh began a new chapter in Sylhet. However, the hosts are in for a far bigger achievement when the second and final Test of the series begins on Wednesday in Dhaka.
Bangladesh has yet to win a home or away Test series against one of the major Test nations. There have been home Test victories over England and Australia, although those series have been tied.
Tail-up The Tigers have their sights set on another maiden victory, but for the time being, the focus has shifted to the wicket at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium (SBNCS), which will likely determine the series’ outcome.
Close to nightfall yesterday, the playing surface had taken on the appearance of a level deck with very no grass on it. Some of the dead grass was removed, and the wicket will roll somewhat more as the match approaches.
After inspecting the wicket before of the practise session yesterday, head coach Chandika Hathurusingha was spotted talking with SBNCS’s head curator Gamini de Silva for quite some time after returning from Bangladesh’s nets session.
Earlier in the day, New Zealand captain Tim Southee and batter Kane Williamson were eager to get information from Mustafizur Rahman, who arrived at SBNCS for white-ball practise. When Southee mentioned seam while pointing to the wicket, Mustafizur motioned back that he didn’t know, eliciting amusement from the two New Zealand veterans.
Leg spinner from New Zealand Ish Sodhi concluded that the wicket was wetter than usual.
“I’m just getting here, but I think there’s a lot more moisture in the air.” “I’m not sure if it’s been raining or not, but it certainly feels a little bit wetter underground,” Sodhi said in a video given by New Zealand Cricket (NZC).
“Potentially it could be a little bit more grass on the wicket or a little bit of tackiness, so it’s something I guess we’ll have a yarn about and figure out as the next couple of training days go.”
Tackiness is to be expected at SBNCS, which has a history of producing sluggish wickets. Mirpur tests are frequently not completed on the sixth day. Given the scarcity of grass, it’ll be interesting to see what Mirpur has to offer this time.
Pacers controlled the last Test here against Afghanistan, getting the ball to move around and extracting bounce. The Kiwi speed attack, on the other hand, may deter Bangladesh from playing on such a lively pitch.
Meanwhile, the Tigers’ practise was nothing out of the ordinary. Selectors Minhajul Abedin and Habibul Bashar were present to see the action at the nets. The head coach was anxious after Mahmudul Hasan Joy was hit on the hand, but he returned to bat after some spraying. Hathurusingha was demonstrating to Joy the benefits of a high elbow and a less elaborate front-foot movement in order to keep deliveries down rather than pushing at them.
Long innings appear to be the determining factor in Dhaka, and the hosts’ team management will be intently focused on achieving at least a draw for a unique series success.