Mohammad Isam Cricket Writer of Cricinfo is among my favourite writers. Isam in his preview of Bangladesh West Indies Test series starting today at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium (ZACS) has considered Bangladesh as favourite. 

Given the presence of more experienced cricketers in Bangladesh team and home advantage what Isam mentioned is a popular notion. But at the same time Bangladesh not playing longer version cricket at all over almost 12 moths may balance out all the advantages. West Indies tourists may not have many of the first-choice players in the team, yet they have enough quality players (batsmen and bowlers) and many of them were part of West Indies team touring England and New Zealand during this Corona pandemic. Bangladesh suffered huge defeat against Pakistan, India. They were beaten hollow by test rookie Afghanistan at ZACS in the recent past. It is high winter. It may not be possible preparing dry turning wickets favouring spin heavy Bangladesh attack. Even if it is prepared West Indies also have Rahkeem Cornwall and Jomel Warrion to play their parts. West Indies with Shannon Gabriel and Kemar Roach has distinct advantage over Bangladesh with the new ball. In my opinion the series has 50-50 opportunities.  No team appears clear favourites. 

Test cricket is a different ball game. Bangladesh cricketers hardly plays longer version cricket on sporting wickets. T20 and ODI are limited over versions played with white ball. Test cricket played with red ball over 5 days in 15 sessions requires passion, concentration, temperament and patience. These are often missing among Bangladesh cricketers. Given the poor performances of Bangladesh team in test cricket we do not think Bangladesh took required preparation at all for the series. In such situation Bangladesh may struggle against even under strength West Indies team. 

Isam in his write up predicted the following possible playing XI. 

Bangladesh (possible):  Tamim Iqbal, Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mominul Haque (Capt.), Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Liton Das (wk.), Mehidy Hasan, Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman

West Indies (possible):  Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), 2 John Campbell, Nkrumah Bonner, Jermaine Blackwood Joshua Da Silva (wk), Kyle Mayers,  Rahkeem Cornwall, Raymon Reifer/Alzarri Joseph,  Jomel Warrican,  Kemar Roach,  Shannon Gabriel

Isam considering slow low turning track thought of Bangladesh appearing with four spinners and Mustafiz as lone pacer. Off the four Shakib and Taijul are orthodox left arm spinners and Mehedy and Naeem are off spinners. All four are finger spinners and have past proven successful test records. But this West Indies team having quality spinners in their team are expected playing better than Australia and England on Bangladesh wickets against finger spinners. Bangladesh squad does not have a wrist spinner any way. 

Playing with four spinners will be luxury in my opinion. Moreover, they are not like Bedi, Prasanna, Chandrasekhar and Venkataraghawn of India in 1970s. If Shakib is fit for bowling Bangladesh should rather include Abu Jayred Rahi along with Mustafiz for sharing the new ball. Rahi is the number one pace bowler of Bangladesh with the red ball now. He must get enough matches, as Bangladesh will have to play in pace favouring conditions on tour in not-too-distant future. If three spinners do not work four would not. Another position I differ is playing Saif Hasan ahead of Shadman. Opening partnership will be very important for Bangladesh, as they have to handle two world-class West Indian pacers. Gabriel and Roach will test Bangladesh top order on any wicket. Bangladesh has made any major mistake in ignoring tried and tested Mahmudullah for the test. Nazmul Shanto has potential. To accommodate him in ODI Shakib had to bat at four in ODI and now for his sake the best Bangladeshi batsman for number three Mominul has to bat at four and for that Mushfique and Shakib would play at 5 and 6. Bangladesh in the past tried with Mohammad Mithun but now BCB is desperate with Nazmul Shanto. Did he perform well in ODI? 

Much will depend on Tamim, Mominul Mushfique and Shakib. Gabriel, and Roach with new ball, Rakheem Corwall and Jomel Warrican on turning track may prove difficult customers to handle. Bangladesh must not have forgotten the nightmarish experience of Rashid Khan destroying their batting with 10 wickets haul at ZACs.  They must not have forgotten their night marish experience against Gabriel and Roach in a test Innings in West Indies.  The big four has to bat well and bat longer. Hope Liton also clicks at 7. 
Braithwaite, Blackwood, Campbell, Bonner and Da Silva are good enough batsmen to shoulder responsibility. Gabriel and Roach are world class. Rakheem has already showed his class.  Warrican bowled well in New Zealand. West Indies will create strong challenge for Bangladesh. 

Toss will be an important factor. First two days ZACS wicket usually appears as batting paradise. But there is risk also. Taking advance of any residual moisture West Indies pacers may rock and roll in the pre-lunch session of day one if Bangladesh bats first. 

West Indies team had excellent preparations for the test. In the three days practise match their batsmen and bowlers had useful exposure to Bangladesh condition. BCB should have given some of the batsmen some practice as none has played longer version cricket for almost a year. They may be rusty. Shakib has not fully recovered from injury, Mominul has not played any match after having operation in his hand. West Indies played 5 tests during the pandemic Bangladesh did not play any. Neither Bangladeshis had opportunity of playing longer version cricket at home . Even then many think Bangladesh would exploit home condition. But let us see which team put the noses ahead? 

BDST: 1159 HRS, FEB 03, 2021
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