Published: Oct 20, 2016, 07:00 AM (IST)
Edited: Oct 20, 2016, 07:43 AM (IST)
England and Bangladesh meet for the first of the two Test match series at on Friday at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong. After a good practice match played between, both the national teams will lock horns with an aim to start off a short series on a winning note. Hosts had to suffer a 1-2 loss in the One-Day International series against England, which halted the hosts run of 7 series victories in their own den. Also, one thing that will play an important factor is that Bangladesh are playing a Test match after a gap of almost 14 months. So it will be important to see how they fare out in the longest format of the game now that will have to play after such a long gap. On the other hand, England have moved from strength to strength after the same tournament which makes this series an evenly contested one. Here are the key clashes which may unfold between these two teams from. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Bangladesh vs England, 1st Test at Chittagong
Tamim Iqbal vs Chris Woakes: Both these players are vital performers for their team to do well. Woakes has been the most improved player in England’s ranks, with both bat and ball, and will like to inflict some pain on Bangladesh’s Mr Consistent at the top-order. Iqbal was in decent form against England and will like to continue in the same manner against a better team. Woakes has had a good record against the left-handers which will add spice to their contest and if he can get Iqbal early, it will pose some threat to Bangladesh’s scoring. Tamim also gets a star value into the team and is known as a star performer in the squad, so getting him out as soon as they can be at the top of the priority lost for Woakes and the England team.
Moeen Ali vs Mahmudullah: Another riveting contest awaits between England’s go-to bowler in the middle overs, Moeen Ali up against Bangladesh’s most reliable player, Mahmudullah. The versatile Bangladeshi batsman can not only anchor the innings but has the ability to accelerate if required. He is Bangladesh’s dependable performer, especially in the crunch middle-overs’ period. Mahmudullah is a trusted middle order batsman in the Bangladesh lineup and will have the responsibility to take their innings score to a respectable position. On the other hand, Moeen has a habit of earning scalps whenever he comes to bowl and will try to test the patience of Mahmudullah.
Shakib Al Hasan vs Ben Duckett: Shakib is one the best cricketer Bangladesh has ever seen. He is the legend, to be frank. Duckett on the other side has just come up as a fresh talent eager to make his mark in international cricket. He did it as in the practice match against Bangladesh Cricket Board and will be eager to carry on with his form in the Test series as well. Duckett is more likely to come at No. 4 for England and this is what makes this a key clash, wherein one batsman is trying to make his mark at the highest level of cricket and the other, the legendary all-rounder from Bangladesh. Shakib is hard to score runs off and Stokes likes when the ball comes onto the bat. Nonetheless, his power cannot be underestimated, which sets up a mouth-watering contest between these two left-handed batsmen.
Alastair Cook vs Shuvagata Hom: The reason this clash will be a crunch one is because Cook has tremendous responsibility of England batting on his shoulder. Cook has had an on and off series against Pakistan but he is that kind of a batsman who can get in his strides in no time. To play in the subcontinental conditions is definitely going to be a different ball game for the England skipper, but given the way his Test career has gone by he would not take much time to get accustomed to the Bangladesh wicket. So, in short, a lot depends on how Cook performs with his bat as his early wicket would pressurise the incoming batsmen.
On the other hand, Shuvagata Hom is very much likely to open the bowling for Bangladesh. Hom just has 8 wickets in the 9 innings that he has played in. Of course, we should not forget the lack of Test cricket Bangladesh has played in past year. But with his inclusion in the squad for the first Test, he would be very much likely eager to make his mark in the series and perform well to cement his place in the team for the remainder of the series. If Hom gets the wicket of Cook early into his innings, the hosts would definitely try to tighten things for England early into the match. It is quite obvious actually that dismissing Cook in the initial stage of the game would increase the chances of bundling up the rest of the team or at least tighten things for them and Hom would certainly be in the race at the top spot to get Cook’s wicket.
With all these things unquestionable to happen in the first Test, this clash is going to up the heat in between these the two nations for sure!
(Rohan A. Sawant is a reporter for CricketCountry. He loves Football, Cricket and is a die-hard Arsenal fan. He is an avid writer and has some knowledge about cricket and so he is trying his best to pour with his Laptop as he finds writing with pen and paper very clumsy. You can follow him on Twitter @iswandering)
