Middle-order batsman Kane Williamson was under no illusions with the difficult task at hand as New Zealand are preparing to take on Bangladesh in the first Test in three days’ time at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong.
Williamson was exchanging his views with the reporters in the port-city on Saturday and admitted that the Kiwis need to be on top of their game to overcome the hosts in the two-match Test series.
‘You would want to score as many runs as possible, but also the main thing is to contribute to winning performances. Winning a game over here is a huge effort, because Bangladesh are good in their conditions,’ said the 23-year old right-handed batsman.
‘It is a tough place to bat, and something that I have to get used to. I am touring the world, playing in all different types of conditions. Bangladesh is certainly different than what we are used to,’ he added.
Williamson has fond memories of this country as he struck his maiden one-day international hundred at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in 2010 although he was not looking beyond the Test series, which will be a new experience for many members of the touring side.
‘It was nice to spend some time in the middle there. But having said that, I haven’t played a Test series here and neither have a lot of the boys. So it will be a good experience,’ said Williamson.
‘We have been doing a lot of talking, particularly about the opposition and conditions over here. We are trying to simulate all those things and move our game forward,’ he added.
Williamson was visibly upset with the washout of the three-day practice match between the New Zealanders and a Bangladesh Cricket Board XI which was supposed to be held from October 4-6 and he felt that it deprived them from valuable match-practice ahead of the first Test.
‘It is very frustrating. It would have been really nice to play the match but it wasn’t to be. The outfield wasn’t of the condition to play. It’s just the way it goes,’ he said.
‘It is a shame not to get a practice match, but we have a few days to train and prepare accordingly. It is not ideal [to our preparations],’ he added.
-With New Age input
