Tigers return to Tests today
Unlike the team that surrendered meekly in the three-match ODI series, the visiting West Indies side is expected to put up a better show in the longer format when they take on Bangladesh in the first Test from today.
The first of two Tests will start from 9:30am at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram.
Bangladesh skipper Mominul Haque and his troops will be making a return to Test cricket after over 10 months and for them the main challenge will be to improve standards in cricket's most elite format.
The Tigers will have their full-strength side against the West Indies, with the inclusion of star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who will return to red-ball cricket despite there being a few concerns over the groin injury he sustained during the third ODI.
The hosts will be looking to continue their spin dominance at home on the ZACS pitch, which is once again expected to favour spinners. There has been talk about providing exposure to up-and-coming seamers but head coach Russell Domingo said the Tigers would not go for an out-and-out pace attack on a spin-friendly wicket.
It is expected that the Tigers will go with a three-spinner attack comprising Shakib, fellow left-arm spinner Taijul Islam and off-spinner Nayeem Hasa. There is also the outside chance of the team picking a fourth spinner in the form of Mehedi Hasan Miraz cannot.
That leaves the question of whether the team management would opt for one or two seamers in the side.
Right-arm pacer Abu Jayed has been the first-choice pacer in the Test side, while recent performances of left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman will give the team management some food for thought about the second pacer's spot.
On the batting side of things, there is also uncertainty about the identity of Tamim Iqbal opening partner with Shadman Islam and Saif Hasan vying for the spot. The presence of skipper Mominul, Shakib and Mushfiqur Rahim provides a lot of assurance in the middle order and the team management may also opt for left-hander Nazmul Hossain at number three.
Liton Das is expected to keep wickets and bat at number seven, making for a formidable batting order against the West Indies bowling attack with the presence of both pace and spin in the line-up.
For the West Indies, Shannon Gabriel, Kemar Roach and Alzarri Joseph will play a big role in the pace bowling department. But their trump card could well be the burly off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall as he picked up a five-for in the three-day warm-up against BCB XI.
Skipper Kraigg Brathwaite, Jermaine Blackwood, and John Campbell also had a good outing with the bat in the warm-up and are expected to play a key role with the willow.
Although the West Indies have played five Tests during the pandemic, they went on to lose four of those. Bangladesh, on the other hand, will be making a comeback to the longest format with this series.
The Tigers, who are yet to bag a point in the ICC Test Championship having played three Tests so far, will be eyeing to open the account against the West Indies. They can look for inspiration at the 2-0 whitewash over the Caribbean outfit in 2018, which included a 64-run win in the first Test in Chattogram.
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