Bangladesh will have little time to catch a breath after the second Test against West Indies in Sylhet. As soon as the match ends, the team will head for Johannesburg to begin their two-Test World Test Championship series against South Africa, followed by two three-match white-ball series.
South Africa are taking Bangladesh seriously, and their social media activity around the upcoming series offers a glimpse of the excitement building ahead of the contest. Much of that interest stems from Bangladesh’s improved performances in the current WTC cycle. However, their eight-wicket defeat to West Indies in the opening Test in Mirpur has dented that growing confidence and exposed some familiar concerns with the bat.
The challenge in South Africa could be considerably tougher. The hosts have announced a
15-member squad featuring a formidable pace attack, with Anrich Nortje returning to join Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen. Bangladesh can expect plenty of speed and bounce at the Wanderers and Centurion, with the Proteas seemingly ready to make life difficult for the visitors from the outset.
Nortje missed the final Test of South Africa’s recent 2-1 series victory over Australia due to a groin injury. His return adds another genuine fast-bowling threat to an attack that also includes Dane Paterson, Wiaan Mulder and Corbin Bosch.
The numbers from the Australia series underline the threat. Jansen claimed 13 wickets, while Rabada and Mulder picked up 10 apiece. But pace is not the only concern for Bangladesh. Off-spinner Simon Harmer, surprisingly, finished as the leading wicket-taker with 14 scalps.
The Wanderers is renowned for its pace and bounce, but the surface can also offer turn as a Test progresses. The hosts have therefore retained Harmer and leg-spinner Zubayr Hamza, giving them options to trouble Bangladesh with both pace and spin. Hamza returns to the squad alongside Tony de Zorzi, who missed the Australia series with a hamstring injury.
Bangladesh’s own bowling resources will also be tested by the absence of Nahid Rana. The pace attack is expected to be built around Hasan Mahmud, Ebadot Hossain, Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam, but Rana is almost certain to miss the South Africa tour. He was ruled out of the Australia series with a Grade Two side strain and has since been sidelined from the ongoing home series with hip pain. The fast bowler is currently undergoing rehabilitation in Australia and is not expected to be available for the tour.
South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad has acknowledged the threat Bangladesh’s fast bowlers could pose, particularly in Highveld conditions, but is confident his side can maintain its momentum.
“We know the threat Bangladesh pose and we expect their quicks to be very effective in Highveld conditions. In terms of our batting options, it’s good to welcome Tony back following his recovery from injury, while Zubayr’s inclusion gives us further depth to our top order,” he said.
South Africa, meanwhile, will head into the series riding high after beating Australia. They are second in the WTC standings with a points percentage of 71.43, while Bangladesh sit fifth with 47.62.
The historical record makes the assignment even more challenging. Bangladesh have played eight Tests in South Africa without a win. Overall, the two sides have met 16 times in Test cricket, with South Africa winning 14 and the remaining two ending in draws.
Bangladesh’s batting, however, will be under the spotlight after what happened in Mirpur. Despite securing a 27-run first-innings lead, the hosts crumbled to 53 for six in their second innings against the West Indies spinners. The batters appeared to be in a hurry, leaving the lower order to repair the damage. Tailender Nayeem Hasan’s half-century eventually lifted Bangladesh to 142, setting the visitors a target of 170 and taking the match into the fifth day.
That collapse has made Bangladesh’s already difficult WTC final equation tighter. With the Sylhet Test, two matches against South Africa and two home Tests against England remaining, they need at least four victories and one draw from their final five Tests to keep their hopes of reaching the WTC final alive.
Following the Mirpur defeat, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was asked whether he felt the dream of reaching the WTC final was slipping away. He admitted the task had become difficult but insisted the team would continue to take one match at a time.
“It’s difficult, to be very honest. But as I said in the first press conference, we are looking at one match at a time. We didn’t play our best in this Test match. So, we are looking forward to the second Test and how we can come back strongly,” Shanto said.
