Bd-Eng 2nd Test: Rain threatens opening day

When the second Test between Bangladesh and England starts at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today, cricketers and fans alike will still be reeling from the hangover of that magnificent opening Chittagong Test that the visitors won by 22 runs after four days and 19 minutes of spills and thrills.

While the expectation would be for the home team to start in earnest after that near miss in what was their best-ever display in a five-day contest against a top team, the game in question however is set to partly be a victim of cyclone Kyant, whose activities in the Bay have already caused enough rainfall in Dhaka on Thursday and a forecast of light showers today.

The first-class drainage system in Bangladesh's home of cricket in Mirpur can still offer some stop-start play, but that is something nobody would like to be part of -- especially the team which will be batting first. 

But apart from the rain threat, all eyes will be fixed on the wicket with the anticipation of whether it will be as true as the Chittagong one, which has already entered cricket folklore for its true bounce and turn from the very first ball till the last. The Chittagong wicket not only tested the tenacity of batsmen to the limit but also rewarded good cricketing shots. It was also a Test match that drew enormous enthusiasm from the local fans, who have over the years grown up watching limited-overs contests.

Fans here started to value the essence of a Test match only because of the fight their home team put up against the mighty England in Chittagong, where Mushfiqur Rahim and Co not only fought tooth and nail session by session and day by day, but also created that fine corridor of opportunity of winning the game.

That whole-hearted fight has certainly upped expectations despite the fact that the Tigers have never fared well at Mirpur, where they have lost 10 games, drawn three and won one against Zimbabwe.

With spin ruling the roost in Chittagong where the pacers' job was confined to the old ball, the trend is set to continue on a traditionally slow, turning Dhaka wicket and keeping in mind the track record that both teams have already packed their attack with spinners.

And do not be surprised if the Bangladesh think-tank field only one pacer in an attempt to inject another off-spinning all-rounder after the huge success of 19-year-old Mehedi Hasan Miraz. In that case, off-spinner Shuvagata Hom will make his Test return. The Test may also mark a Bangladesh debut for young right-arm pacer Subhasish Roy.

England, as part of their rotational policy, might finally debut their young opener Haseeb Hameed and are likely to bring in young left-arm spinner Zafar Ansari in place of veteran off-spinner Gareth Batty.

This Test will also mark an individual landmark for Tigers captain Mushfiqur Rahim, who will be playing his 50th Test since making his debut against the same team way back in 2005. 50 Tests in 11 long years is certainly not something any cricketer wishes for, considering that England skipper Alastair Cook has debuted after Mushfiqur and will play his 135th. But from the way this pocket dynamo has trooped this vibrant team in Chittagong, one can only expect he and his team will create enough positive noise to bargain for more Tests. In that case another fight against England in the Dhaka Test will only drum up that urge.