Big picture: Bangladesh seek Sylhet repeat
Bangladesh will be looking for another all-round performance in the second Test in Dhaka as they chase their first series win over New Zealand. They beat the visitors by 150 runs in Sylhet, and while Taijul Islam and Najmul Hossain Shanto stood out with their individual performances, it felt like a complete team effort.
They batted and bowled in partnerships, with Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehidy Hasan Miraz contributing crucial half-centuries to support Shanto’s third innings hundred and Mehidy and Nayeem Hasan supporting Taijul’s efforts with the ball.
New Zealand will be looking to bounce back in a big way, and not just for World Test Championship points. They have never lost a Test series in Bangladesh and will be looking to keep that record intact. They will also want to make a statement having lost two of their last three Tests against these opponents.
To achieve the desired recovery, New Zealand will want to improve in a few key ways in Dhaka. After losing the first Test, their captain Tim Southee called for more consistency from his bowlers, who he felt were no match for their Bangladeshi counterparts in “applying[ing] pressure for a long time”. Ish Sodhi, who took many long leaps while scoring more than five per over in the first innings, and Ajaz Patel, who was a bit expensive in the second, will surely want me to tighten up.
With the bat, New Zealand will want more top-order support for Kane Williamson, whose first-innings century was one of only two 50+ scores by a New Zealand batsman in the first Test. On a Shere Bangla National Stadium pitch where they can expect more uneven bounce than it was in Sylhet, they will want to execute their sweep shots better: both Tom Latham and Henry Nicholls, who usually play the shot well, they played that shot. , caught at short fine leg.
For Bangladesh, Taijul and Mehidy will return to a venue where they enjoy bowling. Nayeem will also be in the eye as he usually only plays home Tests, and will want to push for more consistent selection with Bangladesh playing a lot of cricket next year. The Bangladesh catch was impressive in Sylhet and will look to keep the standards high in Dhaka. They will also be hoping for runs from Zakir Hasan and Noorul Hasan, who lost both innings in Sylhet, and a big score from Mominul Haque, who looked in fine form while scoring 37 and 40.
Form guide
Bangladesh WWWLL (last five tests, most recent first)
New Zealand LWWWL
In the spotlight: Taijul Islam and Tom Latham
Team news: Will New Zealand consider Ravindra or Santner?
Nayeem Hasan suffered a knock on his hand not bowling in practice, but it is not yet considered too serious. Bangladesh are unlikely to change their winning combination, especially at Mirpur where they have historically played three specialist spinners.
Bangladesh (probable): 1 Mahmudul Hasan Joy, 2 Zakir Hasan, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), 4 Mominul Haque, 5 Mushfiqur Rahim, 6 Shahadat Hossain, 7 Nurul Hasan (wk), 8 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9 Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, 11 Shoriful Islam.
Rachin Ravindra and Mitchell Santner could be in the conversation, but New Zealand usually don’t mind unless absolutely necessary.
New Zealand (probable): 1 Devon Conway, 2 Tom Latham, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Henry Nicholls, 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 Tom Blundell (wk), 7 Glenn Phillips, 8 Kyle Jamieson, 9 Ice Sodhi, 10 Tim Southee (capt. ) 11 Ajaz Patel.
Pitch and conditions: Good ol’ Mirpur
Expect the spin to return to the center at the Shere Bangla National Stadium after Bangladesh’s fast bowlers took 21 wickets in the two Tests here earlier this year against Afghanistan and Ireland. Unseasonal rain is expected, particularly on Thursday, the second day of the Dhaka Test.
Stats and Trivia: Best Test year beckons hosts
- Bangladesh’s three wins in 2023 equal 2014 and 2018 for the most Test wins in a calendar year.
- In Sylhet, Kane Williamson became the first New Zealander to score four centuries in consecutive Tests.
- Najmul Hossain Shanto is the first Bangladesh captain to score a century in his first Test in charge.
Quotation marks
“His record is amazing. He has nearly 200 wickets. He is very consistent. He showed a lot of maturity in this Test match. Rangana Herath has done a very good tactical job with him. Similar to [Herath] the way he set up some of the rags. I think he will serve Bangladesh cricket for a long time.”
Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusinghe on the maturity and regular improvement of Taijul Islam
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84