The touring New Zealand cricket team was disappointed that the first day of their three-day practice match against Bangladesh Cricket Board XI was washed out on Friday, Black Caps batsman Peter Fulton told reporters. The first day of their only practice match ahead of the two-match Test series against the Tigers was called off due to rain without a ball being bowled at the MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong.
The three-day match represents New Zealand’s only chance to give some of their players a taste of Bangladeshi conditions before the first Test starts on October 9.
‘It is a bit disappointing, because of the rain we had the whole day’s play called off,’ Fulton said at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, where the players had gone to practise after play was called off in the morning.
‘Hopefully it will clear out and we will have a good hit before the first Test.
‘We want to bat for one day so that all our batters get a hit. We would also want a day in the field, to get our bowlers used to the heat and different conditions as well,’ he added.
Fulton said that the New Zealanders tried to replicate the conditions during their preparation for the series but failed due to the difference between the weather in this part of the world and that in New Zealand.
‘We have tried to replicate, as much as we can, the conditions we will be facing here, but it is quite hard to do it in the New Zealand weather,’ he said.
‘We have had a good week in Colombo, where the preparations went pretty well.’
Fulton, who made his One-Day International debut against Bangladesh in 2004, was not very worried about the new surfaces laid at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium and said they know what to expect from the wickets.
‘We have talked about [the wicket],’ he said.
‘We have an idea of what to expect, but we will go in with an open mind. If it is different from that, we will be prepared for that.’
‘We are assuming it will be low and slow, and it will spin. But we just have to wait and see.’
Fulton also revealed that New Zealand would prepare their batsmen for all-rounder Sakib al Hasan by trying to emulate his bowling in the nets.
‘We have to face as much left-arm spin in the nets as possible. We know he’s a good bowler, but we just have to play more bowling of left-arm spin or off-spin in the nets,’ he said.
‘Bangladesh are a strong team here. We have competed against some good teams in the last six months, particularly England. That gives us the confidence,’ he added.
-With New Age input
