After two weeks very intensive isolation and quarantine at Christchurch Bangladesh cricket team has moved to Queenstown this morning. Players and coaching staff all tested negative in the 4th COVID test. 

Over the past two weeks the team could not assemble together, could only have limited facilities and some practice in small groups. From this afternoon they are in a position to start practicing together and after couple of days would play a practice match among themselves. Then from 20th March the first of the three ODI would be played at University Oval at Dunedin. The second match will be held at Christchurch and the third at Basin Reserve Wellington. The matches are part of ICC ODI League. New Zealand in the recent past won ODI home series against West Indies and Pakistan and won T20 series against Australia. Bangladesh whitewashed West Indies at home.

Bangladesh has not won any match of bilateral series against New Zealand in New Zealand yet. But Bangladesh beat Scotland in ICC World Cup 2015 chasing over 300 runs and almost turned the table on the host New Zealand. The world cricket knows about the capability of team tigers winning against any team of the world on their day at least in ODI format. It does make a little difference off course playing without Mashrafee and Shakib. But life is like that .No one remains indispensible for anything forever. Bangladesh has to look beyond its mega stars. New Zealand ranks 3rd and Bangladesh 7th in ICC Ranking. Bangladesh in the past whitewashed New Zealand twice in Bangladesh in ODI and has also beaten them at the tri nation tournament prior to ICC World Cup 2019 at Ireland.

ICC ODI Rankings Of The Teams ( 10 March 2021) 

The teams in bold are engaged in bilateral series. 

Those who have some knowledge of the Geography of the world know that New Zealand is very close to South Pole. The country has two clusters of islands surrounded by South Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea. Dunedin and Christchurch are part of the Southern Islands and Capital Wellington is at the Southern tip of Northern Island. Winter is round the corner in the Southern Hemisphere. New Zealand winter is even cooler than Melbourne, Sydney and Hobart. But Bangladesh team staying at Christchurch for 10 days must have acclimatized well by this time with the cold and windy condition. The weeklong practice sessions should also give them good feelings. 

University Oval at Dunedin: 

Bangladesh starts its mission New Zealand in 2021 playing first ODI on 20 March.  New Zealand hammered a huge T20 defeat there on Australia in the recent past. 

University Oval is a small ground, fast outfield and can be very windy at this time of the year. The ground has a capacity of 4500 people. The first ODI at Dunedin was played between Bangladesh and New Zealand on 8 February 2010.  Bangladesh scored 183/8 with Mushfiqur Rahim top scoring 86. Naeem Islam scored 43. New Zealand won the match racing to 185/5 in only 27.5 overs. Ross Taylor scored 78 in 52 deliveries. Shafiul Islam took 3/49 and Rubel Hossian took 2/68. 

Last ODI at Dunedin was also incidentally between Bangladesh and New Zealand 20 February 2019. New Zealand piled up 330/6 (Ross Taylor 69, Henry Nicholls 64, Tom Latham 59, James Neesham 37, Collin de Grandhomme 37*). Mustafiz took 2/93. Saifuddin, Rubel, Mehedy Miraj and Mahmudullah of the present team also bowled in that match. 

Bangladesh could score only 242 all out and lost the match by 88 runs. The feature of the Bangladesh match was a brilliant 102 by Sabbir batting at number 6. He is not in the squad now. Saifuddin scored 44 and Mehedy Miraj 37.  Tim Southee alone destroyed Bangladesh taking 6/65.

Bangladesh must take this first match very carefully. It can be very tricky taking decision to bat or field if Bangladesh wins the toss. New Zealand batsmen are in peak form although they stuttered a bit against spin of Australia in T20. As Bangladesh bowlers may struggle a bit adjusting with the wind would suggest for batting first if opportunity comes. New Zealand getting opportunity to bat first may score above 300. Then Bangladesh may panic. Losing big may leave an impact on the entire tour. Rather batting first and scoring 270-280 will keep Bangladesh in the contest. 

New Zealand has not announced their squad yet. Kane Willamson has been withdrawn for left elbow injury. But Black Caps have many inform batsmen. Guptill, Conway, Neesham are in great form. Latham and Taylor would join. We do not think New Zealand batsmen bothers much about playing pace. Bangladesh does not have express fast bowlers. Hasan Mahmood or Taskin can be option. But Mustafiz and even Shoriful can be tried whoever adjusts to the condition well. Saifuddin would be there in any case as all rounder. He has past proven experience. But Bangladesh should opt for playing two spinners Afiff or Mosaddeq should be one of them as Black Caps have shown some vulnerability against quality spin. Tamim must be very careful about choosing the right end for the spinner making batsmen lift against the wind. Taking high catches in the windy condition is another challenge. Bangladesh must field well. I would suggest playing Mossadeq in the first match also for his all round ability. Two pacers and a spinner with Saifuddinwould be the right choice. Mahmudullah and Mehidi Miraj would be there in any case. Let us hope that Bangladesh makes a winning start. A good start would be half done. A very difficult task but not impossible. 

BDST: 1342 HRS, MAR 10, 2021
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