Despite a commendable record against Bangladesh in Test matches, New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum said that the second and final Test, which will get underway today in Mirpur, will be a much more competitive affair. The Kiwis have won eight of the 10 Test matches between the two sides, with the other two ending in draws. McCullum reiterated on Sunday that the task awaiting New Zealand against a spirited Bangladesh side would be a tough one.
‘It didn’t surprise me how close the last Test match was or how hard-fought it was. Both the teams in these conditions are pretty closely matched. There’s always respect for Bangladesh in their own conditions,’ said McCullum in the pre-match press conference at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
‘We know that we have got a real fight on our hands over the coming five days to get the result that we want,’ he added.
Bangladeshi spinners accounted for 16 of the 17 New Zealand wickets to fall in the drawn first Test, with off-spinner Sohag Gazi claiming half of them and taking a hat-trick on the fifth day.
Sohag also struck a century at number eight in the first innings, which landed him the man-of-the-match award. With 34 wickets in seven Tests so far, Sohag was the danger-man going into the series-deciding Test, McCullum admitted.
‘[Sohag] bowled exceptionally well in that last Test match. He had a very good game and he thoroughly deserves the accolades that followed for him,’ said the 32-year-old Kiwi skipper.
‘We have each got individual plans trying to counter him. If we want to be successful in this Test match he’s the guy we have got to overcome,’ he added.
Even though McCullum was aware that the Mirpur wicket would be similar to the one in Chittagong in terms of slowness, he went on to say that the pitches in Bangladesh tend to assist the spinners less than other in sub-continental countries, like Sri Lanka and India.
‘It doesn’t spin a great deal over here, I don’t think. I think it’s a bit of a myth that it spins a lot here in Bangladesh. Sri Lanka and India offer a lot more for the spinners,’ said McCullum.
The Bangladeshi spinners bowled 204.1 of the 247.1 total overs the Black Caps faced, and McCullum knows that the visitors can expect to face a barrage of spin once again.
‘I thought their spinners bowled very well. We know that their spinners are going to ask us a lot of questions in the next five days. I guess we’re well-prepared.’
-With New Age input
