Bangladesh look to abandon horrors of 2018 against buoyant West Indies

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4 years in the past, Bangladesh’s final go to to Antigua wasn’t a nice expertise. On the primary day of their 2018 tour, West Indies routed them out for 43, their lowest Check complete. The guests went belly-up for the remainder of that Check collection, which lasted a complete of six days.

Whereas humiliation was the principle final result then, Bangladesh have an even bigger consequence dealing with them now. The present tour of West Indies is their penultimate on this cycle’s World Check Championship, as they combat their very own demons. They’ve simply been knocked over by Sri Lanka at residence, after getting hammered by South Africa beforehand.

Shakib Al Hasan was handed the reins however his apathy in the direction of Check cricket is well-known. To make issues worse, Bangladesh shall be with out Mushfiqur Rahim – their top-scorer in opposition to Sri Lanka – after he opted to go on Hajj, in addition to Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam who’re each recuperating from accidents.

There may be, nonetheless, some respite for the guests from their drawn warm-up match on the Coolidge Cricket Floor final week. Tamim Iqbal bounced again from his pair in opposition to Sri Lanka with 162 in opposition to the CWI President’s XI, whereas Najmul Hossain Shanto received a much-needed fifty. Mustafizur Rahman, bowling with a purple ball after a very long time, and Ebadot Hossain additionally took three wickets every.

In the meantime, hosts West Indies are a bit in need of latest Check expertise, having solely performed a single Check collection in 2022. However the 2-1 win in opposition to England in March was reassurance that with Kraigg Brathwaite in cost, they had been maybe again on monitor.

If Kemar Roach can move his health take a look at, West Indies can threaten Bangladesh with a correct tempo assault that additionally contains Alzarri Joseph, Jayden Seales and newcomer Anderson Phillip.

There are additionally first-time call-ups for wicketkeeper-batter Devon Thomas and left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie for the collection.

Brathwaite will lead the batting line-up along with his deputy Jermaine Blackwood, to go along with Nkrumah Bonner, Joshua Da Silva and Kyle Mayers. Raymon Reifer additionally affords an fascinating selection along with his left-arm tempo and batting. West Indies have additionally included Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Shermon Lewis as reserves.

Latest kind

(Final 5 matches, most up-to-date first)

West Indies WDDLL
Bangladesh LDLLL

Within the highlight

Joshua Da Silva was West Indies’ Participant of the Match of their final Check look in opposition to England again in March. He made an unbeaten hundred and took 5 catches. Da Silva will as soon as once more be within the thick of issues in opposition to Bangladesh, particularly being one of many primary batters to have just lately performed first-class cricket within the West Indies 4-Day Regional Championship.

It’s not typically {that a} Bangladesh batter finds himself among the many prime three run-getters six months right into a yr, however that’s precisely the place Litton Das is in the intervening time. He’s simply behind Usman Khawaja and Joe Root, however 558 runs with two centuries regardless of being a wicketkeeper coming in at No. 7 stays a speaking level. Little doubt then that his elevation to changing into the vice-captain was a matter of time.

Group information

Now that Shamarh Brooks is dropped, is it doubtless that Bonner shall be again at No. 3? Does Thomas’ inclusion imply something for Da Silva batting greater up the order, or do the selectors take an opportunity with newcomer Chanderpaul from the reserves? Will Reifer substitute Jason Holder, who has been rested? There might be a variety of questions dealing with the West Indies staff administration.

West Indies (possible): 1 Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), 2 John Campbell, 3 Nkrumah Bonner, 4 Jermaine Blackwood, 5 Kyle Mayers, 6 Joshua Da Silva (wk), 7 Devon Thomas, 8 Raymon Reifer, 9 Alzarri Joseph, 10 Anderson Philip/Kemar Roach, 11 Jayden Seales

Shakib ought to come out at No. 5 since Mushfiqur and Yasir aren’t obtainable. Nurul Hasan will bolster the batting unit, however Mosaddek Hossain’s kind is a priority. Mustafizur may get a spot if Bangladesh need 5 bowlers, however that will imply risking a protracted tail.

*Bangladesh have known as up Anamul Haque, who final performed a Check in September 2014, as a substitute for Yasir however he’ll go away for Antigua on June 17 to be obtainable for the second Check beginning June 24 in St Lucia.

Bangladesh (possible): 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Mahmudul Hasan Pleasure, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 4 Mominul Haque, 5 Shakib Al Hasan (capt), 6 Litton Das (wk), 7 Nurul Hasan, 8 Mosaddek Hossain, 9 Taijul Islam, 10 Khaled Ahmed, 11 Ebadot Hossain

Pitch and circumstances

It’s more likely to be a straw-coloured pitch on the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. Rain is not forecast over the 5 days.

Stats and trivia

Bangladesh’s final Check collection within the West Indies was their worst when it comes to staff batting common (12.60).

West Indies maintain a snug 12-4 win file in opposition to Bangladesh. Bangladesh final gained a collection within the West Indies in 2009, when a second-string squad performed for the hosts.

Tamim wants one other 19 runs to develop into the second Bangladeshi batter to succeed in the 5000-run mark. He was primed to be the primary however after having to retire damage on 131 in Chattogram final month, he made a pair in Dhaka. Mushfiqur pipped him to the put up.

*1743 hrs GMT, June 15, 2022: Anamul Haque’s call-up to the squad was added after an official affirmation.

Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84

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