‘Conditions not foreign to us’

For any team, home matches are seen as comparatively easier fixtures than those played away on tour. However, it is also true that the pressure of delivering as favourites may also become a factor and work against the hosts.

And for Bangladesh, a side that has been abysmal in Tests in the recent past, the challenge at home may just get trickier. Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine acknowledged that the Mominul Haque-led Bangladesh side will be under more pressure when the two sides meet during their lone Test of the tour at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today.

"You always feel a little bit of pressure playing at home. Obviously with the recent form, they [Bangladesh] will be under even more pressure. But we have to concentrate on our process and our strength and not worry too much about Bangladesh's [recent] history in Test cricket," said Ervine during the pre-match press conference in Mirpur yesterday.

Bangladesh's last Test win came against West Indies, when the Tigers registered their biggest ever Test win by defeating the Caribbean side by an innings and 184 runs in Mirpur in November 2018. Since then, Bangladesh played six Tests -- five overseas and one in Chattogram -- and the Tigers lost all their away matches by innings margins while losing the Chattogram Test by 224 runs against rookies Afghanistan.

And after such a poor run in the longer version, even home matches may take a heavy toll on the Tigers. That was perhaps the reason Ervine also issued a warning to the Tigers, mentioning that Zimbabwe, who have toured the country a number of times in the past, will also be playing in known conditions and that might just spark up the contest.       

"Bangladesh are having a poor run of form in Tests recently. But obviously they are stronger opponents in their own condition. But this condition is also a little familiar to us as we have toured here often in the past. So, it is not a foreign thing to us. It should be a very good contest," concluded Ervine.