Second Test begins today at SBNS
Both Bangladesh and New Zealand will fancy their chances when the two teams meet in the second and final Test of the two-match series in Dhaka today.
The two teams fought neck-and-neck in the drawn first Test in Chittagong, where some individual performances from both sides gave fans some hope that the second Test in Dhaka will see a result. With recent history suggesting that both teams are on par, it is make-or-break for both Bangladesh and New Zealand as they chase both the match and the series over the next five days.
Bangladesh are tottering at the bottom of the Test table, lower than fellow wooden-spooners Zimbabwe, after losing eight of their last 12 matches and picking up just one win in the last three years.
New Zealand are ranked in eighth place – just above Zimbabwe and Bangladesh – having suffered 10 defeats in their last 17 Tests. Their lone win during this period came against Sri Lanka in Colombo in November 2012.
In addition to the visitors’ dismal recent record, the Tigers can also draw inspiration from their own progress, having recently earned some respect from opponents as a batting unit.
The record-breaking show of spinner Sohag Gazi, who became the first man in the history of Test cricket to score a century and claim a hat-trick in the same Test, also lifted the Tigers’ morale.
Sohag grabbed 6-77 in the second innings despite little assistance from the pitch, which appeared as flat as an express highway.
Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim hopes that a little turn at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium will make a lot of difference. hoped.
‘There will be some advantages for spinners at Mirpur,’ Mushfiq said on the eve of the second Test. ‘We’re taking our preparations to keep it in mind.’
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, however, dismissed the fear of spin, calling it a myth.
‘It is a myth that it spins in Bangladesh,’ McCullum said on Sunday. ‘I think Sri Lanka and India offer a lot more for the spinners.
‘In Bangladesh it tends to skid, and you have seen it in the modes of dismissals in the last game.
‘Their spinners bowled very well, and they will ask us a lot of questions in the next five days. We have the game to suit, and our guys can be successful against spinners. We are well prepared.’
The Kiwis were mulling an extra seamer as their spinners failed to make any impact the first Test.
Bruce Martin finished with match figures of 2-175 from 43 overs, while debutant leg-spinner Ish Sodhi could only claim three for 169 from 39.1 overs.
‘[An extra seamer] is something we need to look at and work out the balance of our team,’ said McCullum. ‘Obviously if we do include the extra seamer in place of one of our spinners then we have got a number of options.’
If Martin gets the chop as reported by New Zealand media, the visitors could add Neil Wagner to their bowling line-up of Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell and Corey Anderson to form a four-pronged pace attack.
Changes are in the cards for the Tigers’ line-up too, as they are all set to give a Test cap to Al Amin Hossain, who has been tapped in place of the injured Robiul Islam.
The Tigers were also considering using Naeem Islam to open the innings along with Tamim Iqbal after Anamul Haque appeared out of sorts in the first Test.
GTV & BTV
9:30 AM Live Bangladesh v New Zealand
2nd Test, Day 1
-With New Age input
