DHAKA: English Lions are set to arrive in the den of Royal Bengal at the end of month for epic cricket battle. Bengal tigers proved thorn of English rose garden in the past two world cups beating them first in Chittagong in 2011 and then knocking them out in 2015.

That famous win at Adelaide Oval announced loudly the arrival of Mashrafe squad in world cricket as fearsome force to reckon with. Bangladesh, since then, did not look back whitewashing Pakistan and winning home series against India and South Africa back to back.

Bangladesh played no bilateral series so far in 2016. England and before that a three-match ODI series against rising Afghanistan will herald the beginning of a busy and bustling international cricket for Tigers once again. England has just announced its Test and ODI squads. Bangladesh and England will play three ODIs and two tests.

Test Squad: Alastair Cook (C), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Zafar Ansari, Jonny Bairstow, Gary Ballance, Gareth Batty, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler (WK), Ben Duckett, Steven Finn, Haseeb Hameed, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

ODI Squad: Jos Buttler (C), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Sam Billings, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

Matches Schedule:

1st ODI, Dhaka:          7 October, 2016
2nd ODI, Dhaka:         9 October, 2016
3rd ODI, Chittagong:   12 October, 2016

1st Test, Chittagong:    20-24 October, 2016
2nd Test: Dhaka:         28 Oct-1 Nov, 2016

England just have completed a busy home season playing against two sub-continental teams -- Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Bangladesh did not play any bilateral international cricket series in 2016. Moreover, the terrorist incidents in July cast some clouds of doubt about the tour going ahead. But assurance from the relevant authorities of VVIP security arrangements earned confidence of English Cricket Board (ECB).

Players however were given choice. Only Eoin Morgan and Alex Hales, among the prominent players, opted out which was also bitterly criticised in English press and by leading ex-test players. A full strength English team is finally coming which will make the contest a battle royal as Bangladesh is now a formidable force in limited over cricket. It is also improving rapidly in test as well.

English squad has three names which are unfamiliar to international cricket admirers. Two of them are young openers – 19-year old Lancashire batsman Haseeb Hameed and Northamptonshire opener 21-year old Ben Duckett. Hameed and Duckett feature in both test and ODI squad. Surrey Spinner Zafar Ansari is also in the squad. Gareth Batty, a 38-year old veteran also made come back to the English team after 11 years.

When few appeared reluctant to come to Bangladesh including the English cheer leaders “Barmy Army”, Nasser Hossain former English Captain and now commentator sounded very positive stating, “If Bangladesh is not safe for cricket which country is”. He will be covering the entire tour. The situation in Bangladesh is well under control. Cricket is common religion in Bangladesh and the country has rich tradition for absolutely hospitable to foreign nationals in general and cricketers in particular. Gulshan incident was a very rare exception.

How English Team Would Perform?

England is now a very settled side and is expected to stretch Bangladesh to its limit. But subcontinent conditions and wickets always present a different challenge for touring teams (England, Australia and New Zealand). Not many English players play IPL or BPL also.

Bangladesh will be deprived of the services of exceptional bowling talent Mustafizur Rahman who is now under his post-surgery rehabilitation. Pace talent Taskin is also waiting for the outcome of bowling action re-test. There are enough in the store though, even without the two premiere pacers to challenge the Englishmen.

Mashrafe inspired pace attack has Rubel (he accounted for English team knocking out from World Cup 2015), Al-Amin Hossain also make Bangladesh pace battery competitive. Moreover, Bangladesh roping in iconic West Indian pace legend Courtney Walsh will definitely have depth and diversity in pace attack.

England, on the other hand, is set to use either Dockett or Hamid as the opening partner of Captain Cook for the tests. Two youngsters will possibly open the innings in ODI. First time in unfamiliar condition it will be huge challenge for the rookies. Joe Root, Gary Balance, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali make English batting very strong in test. Even Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes are very good all-rounders.

I doubt whether Bangladesh will be able to take 20 English wickets especially when Bangladesh spin attack is not that formidable like before with veteran Abdur Razzak being ignored in all formats and young Jubair Hossain not being relied upon. We are unsure ace spinner Shakib will have required support from his spinning partners. I would strongly suggest for considering Razzak for ODI and Jubair for inclusion in the test team especially when Arafat Sunny is unsure of getting through in test in his remodelled action.

England has all round bowling attack. Stuart Broad and James Anderson can take wickets on any surface. Chris Woakes and Liam Plunket as back up in test will make English pace attack formidable. Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid will possibly lead English spin attack. Gareth Betty and Zafar Ansari have been picked as back up. Bangladeshi batsmen have to be at their peak to encounter English attack.

What Should Bangladesh Do?

Bangladesh must use the three-match ODI series preceding the series against England settling their best combination for the later series. Afghanistan is also a fierce competitor and can test the best of Bangladesh. Yet Bangladesh has talented batsmen vying for some spots. Not picking Razzak and Jubair is not a smart decision I would say. Mominul Haque should also have been in the squad. He is a quality player and would succeed if used smartly. Batting unit in both tests and ODI are well settled. Tamim will have Soumya Sarkar in ODI and Imrul Kayes in test as opening partners.

In ODI Anamul Haque can be used at number three playing talented Sabbir at seven. In ODI Shakib, Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah will occupy 4-6. If necessary they can be rotated. Mashrafe at 8 and then 9, 10 and jack can be bowlers (Rubel, Al Amin and Taskin).

If Bangladesh wants to use Nasir it can push Sabbir at three and Nasir replacing him at 7 at the cost of Bijoy. Inclusion of Nasir would give option for Mashrafe using him as a spinner. Otherwise Shakib can be supported by Mahmudullah, Sabbir in spinning department. Bangladesh will miss the experience of Razzak at the early overs and death against versatile English batsmen. Bangladesh will also miss Jubair as English batsmen are not too comfortable against quality leggies.

Bangladesh ODI Team: Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Sabbir Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, Nasir Hossain, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (C), Rubel Hossain, Al-Amin Hossain and Taskin Ahmed.

Bangladesh is expected to win the ODI series at home establishing their already earned reputation as a formidable limited over international team. But they have to play their A game in every match.

Test will be a different ball game. England is a very settled unit. It is coming to Bangladesh with all ends covered. They have very high quality test batsmen, leading new ball bowlers and tried and tested spinners. Tall English pacers can extract awkward bounce from any wicket. Last time during Bangladesh visit English pacers exploited the weakness of Bangladesh batsmen against sharp rising deliveries. Hope this time Bangladesh will fare better.

Mominul Haque as test batsman will be ideal at number three. I hope Bangladesh will have right team for test squad as well. Taking the test to distance and earning a draw against strong England team can be a moral booster for Bangladesh. Someone has to bat like Younis Khan and Misbah Ul Huq to upset England.

My Ideal Test Squad: Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (C), Mahmudullah Riyad, Nasir Hossain, Liton K Das, Rubel Hossain, Al-Amin Hossain and Jubair Hossain.

We know Cricket is the lone binding element in Bangladesh society now. Success in Cricket inspires the nation in every front. Let us hope that Bangladesh proves equal to English challenges. Let there be enjoyable dog fight of Lion and Tiger in our arena.

BDST: 1312 HRS, SEP 17, 2016
SR/SMS