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Post by Admin on Feb 2, 2021 23:42:32 GMT
Out of Test rhythm, but Bangladesh still hold all the aces against weakened West Indies
Shakib Al Hasan's return lends balance to the hosts, who haven't played Test cricket in almost a year
On paper, this first Test between Bangladesh and West Indies looks a bit of a mismatch. The tourists don't have a bunch of their regulars, including their captain, and are taking on a team that dominates most at home. Bangladesh's spin-heavy attack and experienced batsmen are expected to steamroll West Indies just as they did in 2018, but this is a side that will play its first Test in close to 12 months.
That should give West Indies a bit of an advantage. Some of their players have played Test cricket since the Covid-19 pandemic started - overall, they have played five Tests since then - unlike the Bangladeshis. But, at the same time, they are bereft of a lot of experience. Not to mention that they have lost four out of those five Tests, in England and in New Zealand, while winning just one.
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West Indies' batting will depend heavily on Jermaine Blackwood, captain Kraigg Brathwaite, and John Campbell. Blackwood's 95 in the Southampton Test last year was the high point in his comeback to Test cricket, and he has been West Indies' highest run-getter in the last 12 months. Brathwaite, despite some patchy form of late, has often batted long and well against Bangladesh, while Campbell has shown recent form in New Zealand and during the three-day practice game against a BCB XI.
Among the bowlers, Shannon Gabriel has been the frontman for the last three years, and their most successful bowler in these five Tests, where he has taken 17 wickets. Kemar Roach and Alzarri Joseph are expected to support him but it is likely that the spinners, especially offspinner Rahkeem Cornwall, will be entrusted with a lion's share of the job in Chattogram. Cornwall's 7 for 75 against Afghanistan in Lucknow was 14 months ago, but he picked up a five-for in the tour match last week, and should be high on confidence.
Bangladesh, meanwhile, won the ODI series 3-0 a week ago, but Test cricket's rhythm will be different, even for experienced cricketers. It is likely that the pitch at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium will be a batting paradise for the first couple of days, before slowing down.
That will encourage Bangladesh to revert to their best plan of action - a four-man spin attack, after having picked two seamers in their last home Test. Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan will lead an attack that also includes Nayeem Hasan, who took nine wickets in their last Test. Bangladesh is also likely to prefer a second left-arm spinner to support the returning Shakib. Coach Russell Domingo has indicated that Mustafizur Rahman would be selected, after impressing the coaching staff with his new inswinger into the right-hander.
Their batting, as is usually the case, will depend heavily on Tamim Iqbal, Shakib and Mushfiqur Rahim, but runs will be expected from opener Saif Hassan, who hasn't played his breakout Test innings yet, and Najmul Hossain Shanto.
Form guide
Last five completed matches, most recent first
Bangladesh: WLLLL
West Indies: LLLLW
In the spotlight
With scores of 44 and 68, John Campbell showed form during West Indies' warm-up match last week against the BCB XI. Campbell also scored a half-century in their last Test, so in the absence of many regulars, he will have to put a big price tag on his wicket.
Liton Das is likely to bat at No. 7, which might give Bangladesh a stroke-player around the time the second new-ball is available. He will be expected to make substantial contributions even when batting with the lower-order - not like his 36 runs in the three ODIs last month.
Story Image Kraigg Brathwaite was in good touch in the West Indies' tour game AFP via Getty Images Team news
Bangladesh could go for a straightforward four-man spin attack with Rahman as the lone pacer. A fit Shakib will take Mohammad Mithun's place in the middle-order while Mehidy, Taijul Islam and Nayeem Hasan should be natural choices on a pitch that would require patient and skilful bowling.
Bangladesh (possible): 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Saif Hassan, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 4 Mominul Haque (capt), 5 Mushfiqur Rahim, 6 Shakib Al Hasan, 7 Liton Das (wk), 8 Mehidy Hasan, 9 Nayeem Hasan, 10 Taijul Islam, 11 Mustafizur Rahman
West Indies would likely have fielded a different bowling attack to the one that did duty in their last Test, in Wellington, but now their hand has been forced. Coach Phil Simmons is faced with balancing the attack with right number of spinners, while Nkrumah Bonner and Kyle Mayers seem certain for Test debuts.
West Indies (possible): 1 Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), 2 John Campbell, 3 Nkrumah Bonner, 4 Jermaine Blackwood 5 Joshua Da Silva (wk), 6 Kyle Mayers, 7 Rahkeem Cornwall, 8 Raymon Reifer/Alzarri Joseph, 9 Jomel Warrican, 10 Kemar Roach, 11 Shannon Gabriel
Pitch and conditions
The average first-innings score at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium is 370, which indicates a batsman-friendly venue. There won't be much for fast bowlers, and spinners should call the shots after the first couple of days. There's good weather in store with moderate temperatures in Chattogram.
Stats and trivia
Mominul Haque has scored six centuries in nine Tests at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. He averages 75.42 at the venue.
West Indies lost their last two Tests by innings defeats; the last time they suffered three innings defeats in a row was in 1931.
Brathwaite has played 15 Tests in Asia, the most in this West Indies squad.
Quotes
"I think Bangladesh will always have the edge no matter who they are playing at home, even though they haven't played (Test) cricket for a year. They are a very strong side when they play at home. You can have lack of international cricket but you will be training properly. It takes away the rust, which is only a mental thing. It will go away after the first couple of hours of the first day."
West Indies coach Phil Simmons doesn't think the gap will hurt Bangladesh
"Our performance in Tests in the last couple of years hasn't been that good but it is something that we are really trying to rectify. We spoke long and hard about it after the Pakistan Test. I feel that we are definitely moving in the right direction. It is the start of a process for us in Tests, and the results are very important."
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Post by Admin on Feb 2, 2021 23:47:29 GMT
Kemar Roach draws up plans for West Indies' pacers ahead of Bangladesh Tests Says tips to be gained from having watched Alzarri Joseph bowl in the ODIsKemar Roach in full flow during a practice session Mohammad Isam Mohammad Isam After a forgettable ODI series against Bangladesh, West Indies are gearing up for the two Tests, and Kemar Roach, one of the more experienced players in the squad, is clear about what his fellow pacemen will need to do to challenge the hosts. He says a tough time awaits the fast bowlers on the mostly benign Chattogram and Dhaka pitches, but the key will be consistency and working on getting the ball to reverse. "It is hard work for fast bowlers out here," Roach said. "The pitches aren't conducive to speed or any seam movement. It is all about being consistent and putting the ball in the right areas. It is a pretty straight length [while] challenging the batsmen on the front foot. That's mainly what your best chances are to succeed in Bangladesh. ADVERTISEMENT "[Also] working on the ball as hard as we can, trying to get the ball to reverse as early as you can to trouble the Bangladesh middle order." The visitors, who were comprehensively beaten in all three ODIs, have a three-day practice match lined up at the MA Aziz Stadium in Chattogram over the weekend. The first Test starts at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, across town, next Wednesday. RELATED Story Image 'Mental work' and Kohli's advice - what helped Jermaine Blackwood on his comeback trail Story Image Simmons: West Indies 'need to play spin better' Story Image Joseph: West Indies 'have to play harder, dig deeper' Roach said West Indies' knowledge of the Bangladesh batsmen will come in handy as the Tests get underway. "There's a lot of planning going into it, and a lot of execution that needs to be done," he said. "It is all about being consistent and putting up a good fight. My work is cut out - I am very sure about that - so I am looking forward to it. "We know the Bangladeshi batsmen, they have been the same side for a couple of years. Their main batters that get the job done, we know them pretty well now." He said that another positive for West Indies was the good form of their three frontline pacers - Shannon Gabriel, Alzarri Joseph and himself. "I think Shannon is in a good run of form right now. I have been doing okay myself. It is all about us, trying to get our best performances down here. "The team is pretty inexperienced, but I think there's enough to get us over the line. It is all about us believing in ourselves, backing our ability and getting the job done. I am looking forward to a good Test series, and I am sure we can pull one out of the hat." Roach added that Joseph, who was also in the ODI squad and had played two matches, had shown them the way to bowl on these pitches. "[Joseph] was consistent. I think he really challenged the batsmen's technique. He didn't get the wickets but I was pretty impressed how he handled the pressure. I have definitely taken some stuff from him. "When the bowling unit has a discussion, he will tell us what he thought about the Bangladeshi batsmen and then we can plan from there. It is going to be interesting." Roach was also pleased by the extra work the Test batsmen have been putting in at the nets against spin bowling. "The batsmen have been doing a lot of work with spin. They have been listening and asking questions on how to improve. I am pretty happy with what I am seeing. I am sure that they will go well. "The guys are definitely putting in the extra work when it comes to playing spin well, and trying to get their stride in, using their feet and sweeping. "I have seen improvement in the way the guys have worked since we got here - they are working a little bit smarter - so I hope for them they get some good results in the Test series and win a game for West Indies."
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Post by Admin on Feb 7, 2021 1:48:05 GMT
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Post by Admin on Feb 7, 2021 1:48:43 GMT
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Post by Admin on Feb 7, 2021 22:50:48 GMT
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Post by Admin on Feb 7, 2021 22:51:54 GMT
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Post by Admin on Feb 7, 2021 22:57:33 GMT
Kyle Mayers 210*, Nkrumah Bonner 86 script West Indies' historic chase The duo added 216 as Mehidy Hasan Miraz's first-innings ton and two four-fors went in vainHemant Brar West Indies 259 (Brathwaite 76, Blackwood 68, Miraz 4-58) and 395 for 7 (Mayers 210*, Bonner 86, Miraz 4-113) beat Bangladesh 430 (Miraz 103, Shakib 68, Shadman 59, Warrican 4-133) and 223 for 8 dec (Haque 115, Das 69, Warrican 3-57, Cornwall 3-81) by three wickets Debutant Kyle Mayers scored a magnificent 210 not out as West Indies pulled off the fifth-highest successful chase in Test cricket, and highest in Asia, nailing down 395 for a miraculous three-wicket win on the final evening in Chattogram. In a display of exemplary temperament and power-hitting, Mayers struck 20 fours and seven sixes during his 310-ball stay at the crease. When he hit the winning run, a hurried single to mid-on, only 15 balls were left in the Test. During the course of his innings, he became only the sixth batsman to score a double-century on Test debut, and also the sixth overall to score a double-ton in the fourth innings of a Test. Unsurprisingly, Mayers is the only one on both lists. RELATED Story Image History-making Mayers looking for more and more glory Story Image At no point did I think we would lose the game - Mominul Haque Story Image A bolt from the blue - Kyle Mayers takes Test cricket by storm Story Image Kyle Mayers: 'I hope this inspires all youngsters to work hard' For the most part of the final day, Mayers was accompanied by fellow debutant Nkrumah Bonner, who himself struck a gritty 86. The duo added 216 for the fourth wicket and kept Bangladesh wicketless for the first two sessions of the day. That left West Indies needing 129 in a minimum of 33 overs in the final session. Bonner, who had survived a stumping chance against Nayeem Hasan before tea, hit Taijul Islam for a six in the first over after the interval but was lbw on the very next ball. Jermaine Blackwood too fell soon after. After slog-sweeping Taijul over long-on for six, he went for another big hit against Hasan, only to be bowled for 9. With West Indies 292 for 5 and the target still 103 runs away, Bangladesh had their hopes renewed. Suddenly there were four men close to the bat. But it also meant there were many gaps in the outfield and Mayers and Joshua Da Silva took advantage of that, hitting a four each in one Hasan over. A few minutes later, when Mayers pulled Hasan over deep midwicket for a six to bring the target down to 76, Bangladesh were forced to spread the field once again. Mayers was at his striking-best when the last hour commenced. With 61 required at that stage, he backed himself to clear the boundary-riders and scored 49 by himself, in just 40 balls, bludgeoning five sixes and a four. Taijul, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mustafizur Rahman, no one was spared. In a 100-run stand with Da Silva for the sixth wicket, Mayers' contribution was 80. The credit must go to Da Silva as well who played a perfect foil to Mayers and must have calmed the nerves in the dressing room. He was eventually bowled for 20 when the target was just three runs away. Kemar Roach also fell on the same score - caught at leg slip off Miraz, who ended with a hundred and eight wickets in the match - but by then the result was sealed. Bangladesh, however, will rue the chances they missed and the reviews they didn't take, apart from losing Shakib Al Hasan to a thigh injury on the second day of the Test. West Indies started the day on 110 for 3, and in the first hour alone there were at least three opportunities Bangladesh should have been converted into wickets. Mayers was on 47 when Taijul got one to straighten from around the wicket to hit the batsman on the pads. There was a loud appeal for lbw but umpire Richard Illingworth deemed it not out. Bangladesh didn't opt for the review but replays showed Mayers would have been out had they done so. Shortly afterwards, Miraz induced an outside edge off Mayers bat but this time Najmul Hossain Shanto put it down at first slip. The resulting single took Mayers to his fifty. Bangladesh missed another opportunity to overturn an on-field decision when Hasan got one to turn sharply from outside off and ping Bonner's pads. Illingworth once again ruled it in the batsman's favour. Replays, once again, confirmed he was wrong. Bonner was on 25 at that point. Kyle Mayers gets a hug from fellow debutant Nkrumah Bonner during their double-century stand BCB The Bangladesh spinners were also guilty of not bowling enough full-length deliveries, allowing Bonner and Mayers to wait on the back foot and adjust to whatever turn and bounce the pitch offered. Mayers was the aggressor right from the start, cutting and pulling spinners to the square boundaries. When Rahman was brought into the attack, he welcomed him with a four and six off successive deliveries. Bonner, meanwhile, was happy to keep his end occupied. By lunch, their contrasting approaches led to the comparisons with Cheteshwar Pujara and Rishabh Pant's knocks in India's win against Australia in Brisbane last month. The two, however, seemed to have switched roles in the second session. In the second over after lunch, Bonner cleared his front leg and lofted Taijul over mid-on. It fetched the batsman four runs but the impact was such that Bangladesh went on the defensive after that shot. For the next few overs, they had just one close-in fielder, either a slip or a short leg, for spinners. With a single off Hasan, Bonner brought up his half-century, in 164 balls. Bangladesh opted for the second new ball after the 81st over and seemed to have found success immediately when umpire Sharfuddoula gave Bonner lbw off Taijul. Bonner, though, knew he had got an inside edge and got the decision reversed. But Mayers found himself stuck. Having reached 90 in 146 balls, he took another 32 balls to bring up his maiden Test hundred. And it was a streaky boundary between slip and gully, via an outside edge off Rahman, that took him to the landmark. What followed was a slew of loose shots from Mayers, all in that Rahman over. He was beaten outside off twice in the next two balls and, a ball later, miscued two consecutive lofted attempts. Luckily for West Indies, both fell away from the fielders. It took a message from the dressing room at the end of the over for Mayers to regain his composure, which he didn't lose till the end of the match. Hemant Brar is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo
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Post by Admin on Feb 7, 2021 23:11:44 GMT
Kyle Mayers: 'I hope this inspires all youngsters to work hard' "We never gave up. We always said in the dressing room that we need to keep fighting."
ESPNcricinfo staff www.espncricinfo.com/story/wi-vs-ban-1st-test-chattogram-kyle-mayers-i-hope-this-inspires-all-youngsters-to-work-hard-1250658When West Indies stepped out for the fifth day of the Chattogram Test, every conceivable odd was against them. They had been thoroughly outplayed by Bangladesh for the first four days, and having already lost three wickets in the second innings, they needed another 285 runs for an improbable victory. Taking guard in the middle were two debutants in Kyle Mayers and Nkrumah Bonner, who had made just 57 runs combined in the first innings. Much like they had done in the 2018-19 home series, Bangladesh would have looked to wrap up a comfortable win, but this time, Mayers (210*) and Bonner (86) had other plans, stitching together a heroic 216-run partnership to help West Indies complete the fifth-highest chase in Test cricket, as well as the highest by any team in Asia. Mayers, who took the Man-of-the-Match honours for his stunning double-century, later said he had always backed himself and his team-mates to get the job done. "I am always a positive person. I always believe in my abilities and the team, and I always was positive [to finish the chase]," he said. "We never gave up. We always said in the dressing room that we need to keep fighting. The captain and coach told the bowlers as well that you need to keep fighting on a pitch like this. Shannon [Gabriel] put in great effort to lead the way. "It's a great feeling to be playing Test cricket. Then to go on and score a century, and then to make it a double, and then going on to win this Test. I would like to be thankful to my team-mates, my coaches and family back home. A guy making his debut and making a double should inspire all youngsters to work hard and reach this level." Story Image Centurion Kyle Mayers gets a hug from Nkrumah Bonner after reaching his maiden international ton BCB West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite, who himself had led the way in the first innings by top-scoring with 76, said that his team had been fueled by the losses in the 2018 tour of Bangladesh, when they were defeated in both Tests in under three days. He also denied suggestions that he had been dealt a short hand with a "depleted" squad. "I won't say it was a depleted side. I was very confident when leaving with this side. We were outplayed in 2018, and we were confident we would do better this time," Brathwaite said. "I have believed in this team from day one. It's just about believing in ourselves and backing our plans, and that's what we have done till day five. We lost some momentum with three wickets in the evening yesterday, but the pitch was playing well. We knew it was an open game. We trusted our plans, and Bonner and Mayers showed that they can stick to the plans, and make it work." Bangladesh's captain Mominul Haque conceded that his bowlers "didn't create enough chances" or consistently "bowl in the right areas", but was encouraged with the level of play his team had shown for the first four days. "All credit goes to Bonner and Mayers who batted really well. On the last day, if the wicket was a bit more helpful for spinners, we could have created more chances, but we didn't grab those chances," Haque said. "We lost, but we got some positives. We played the first innings as a team, and we dominated first four days. Mehidy [Hasan Miraz] played really well, and he bowled very well too. Fitness-wise, it was very difficult, especially in the first innings, to play a Test match after no four-day cricket for a year."
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Post by Admin on Feb 9, 2021 2:38:47 GMT
Incredible!Mayers’ record-breaking double ton delivers historic win for Windiestrinidadexpress.com/sports/local/incredible/article_6e6231ea-69a3-11eb-ae35-0b08b45b4afa.htmlKyle Mayers BROTHERS IN ARMS: West Indies' Nkrumah Bonner and Kyle Mayers embrace in celebration of Mayers reaching a maiden Test hundred (on debut) during yesterday's final day's play in the first Test against Bangladesh at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram, Bangladesh. Left-hander Kyle Mayers became only the second West Indies batsman to hit a double hundred on debut as an under-strength West Indies pulled off the highest ever successful run chase on the Asian continent and the fifth highest in Test history, to stun Bangladesh by three wickets in the opening Test, yesterday. Starting the final day on 110 for three in pursuit of an improbable 395 for victory, West Indies defied all odds to reach their target late in the final session with 15 balls remaining at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. At the heart of the victory was an astonishing unbeaten 210 from Mayers who batted the entire day to lead the second-highest successful chase for the Caribbean side following their 418, 18 years ago in Antigua which remains the highest by any side. Mayers found an ally in his overnight partner Nkrumah Bonner who hit 86, and together they added 216 for the fourth wicket in a partnership that marked only the second time two debutants have put on more than 200 runs in a Test innings. The epitome of concentration and combining selective aggression with a sound defense, the 28-year-old Mayers struck 20 fours and seven sixes in an innings spanning 310 balls and just under seven hours at the crease. Bonner’s knock was no less significant, the right-hander facing 245 balls in just short of 5 1/2 hours, and counting 10 fours and a six. Their enterprise denied Bangladesh’s bowlers any success for the first two sessions and West Indies found themselves well placed at tea on 266 for three, still requiring a further 129 runs for victory in the final session. Drama unfolded when Bonner, unbeaten on 79 at tea, perished in the first over after the interval and when Jermaine Blackwood followed for nine soon afterwards, Bangladesh were back in the contest with the Windies stumbling on 292 for five. However, Mayers dominated a 100-run, sixth wicket stand with Joshua Da Silva (20) which revived the run chase and put West Indies in sight of victory. Though Da Silva and Kemar Roach (0) fell in the space of 14 balls late on, Mayers fittingly hit the winning runs with a single to mid on off off-spinner Nayeem Hasan to earn the Windies a historic win. The result came against the backdrop of a depleted side being selected for the tour after six first team players, including regular captain Jason Holder, declined selection due to Covid-19 fears, and interim skipper Kraigg Brathwaite said belief had been key for the inexperienced unit. “I believed in this team from day one. Obviously a lot of people said different stuff but for us, it was just to believe in ourselves, back our plans and we did that right down to day five,” said Brathwaite, who top-scored with 76 in the first innings. Added Mayers: “I’m always a positive person. I always believe in my ability and believe that the team can reach places so I was always positive.” A virtual unknown in international circles, Mayers wrote his name into the record books as he carried West Indies to an unlikely win and a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. The Barbadian became the sixth batsman to score a double-century on debut, with his 210 the highest score in a fourth innings by a player on debut and only behind Lawrence Rowe’s 214 as a debutant for West Indies. Mayers also joined the legendary Sir Gordon Greenidge as the only other batsman in Test history to score a double hundred to achieve a winning result. With Mayers resuming the morning on 37 with Bonner on 15, West Indies first faced the ultimate challenge of avoiding defeat on a wearing pitch and against a battery of spinners. However, both batsmen were self-assured and Mayers was first to his half-century 40 minutes into the session in fortuitous circumstances when he collected a single to third man, after being dropped at slip off off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz (4-113). The pair posted 87 runs in the session to take West Indies to lunch on 197 for three and while Mayers, unbeaten on 91 at the break, managed only 26 runs in the second session, Bonner took the initiative to score freely and raise his half-century in the fifth over following the resumption. Mayers, meanwhile, crawled after lunch and reached his hundred approaching the first hour, with an edged boundary off left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman. Only 69 runs came in the session and the pendulum swung when Bonner lasted just six balls after tea before being hit in front by left-arm spinner Taijul Islam (2-91) and Blackwood was then bowled charging Nayeem after facing only 11 balls, further increasing the pressure on Mayers. He hardly blinked, however, and with the support of Da Silva, moved into the 140s with a boundary to third man off Nayeem before reaching 150 on the verge of the last hour. With West Indies on 334 for five at the start of the final hour, Mayers upped the tempo by clearing the ropes at long on with Mustafizur before smashing Mehidy over long off for another six. The last of his seven sixes took him to 198 and he completed a sensational double hundred with a single to point off Nayeem, with the Windies needing just 10 runs to win. Another six off the first ball of the next over all but confirmed victory and not even the wickets of Da Silva and Roach could tarnish the result. Facebook Twitter Email Print Save
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