New Zealand v Bangladesh, 1st Test preview, likely XIs: Bangladesh up against it in Hamilton

Bangladesh haven’t had so much as a peep, so far in their tour of New Zealand. They were brushed aside in the ODIs 3-0 – each a comfortable victory for the home side – and going into the Tests and all the challenges the format brings, it’s hard to see where Bangladesh can turn to for a performance.

New Zealand – with Trent Boult and Tim Southee leading the charge – will have noticed the Bangladesh batsmen’s discomfort against the moving ball. The red ball tends to do more, and that doesn’t bode well for the visitors.

They are, as it is, depleted by injuries – Shakib Al Hasan is still battling to recover from the finger problem that kept him out of the ODIs, and Mushfiqur Rahim has ribcage issues. The paceman, Taskin Ahmed, is also absent with knee injury, and it’s the uncapped Ebadot Hossain who has replaced him in the squad.

So, what do Bangladesh do? Grind it out. It’s Test cricket, anything can happen. Sri Lanka can be an inspiration, the way they broke records in South Africa against all odds. And if New Zealand are smart, they’d have taken note of that too.

Head to head

History doesn’t bode well for Bangladesh. They have played seven Tests in New Zealand, going back to 2001, and they have lost every single time.

In fact, that record doesn’t get much better even when you factor in overall records – Bangladesh have never beaten New Zealand in a Test match. In the 13 Tests the two sides have contested in, New Zealand have won 10 times.

The three other matches were draws, in Chittagong and Dhaka, in 2008 and 2013.

It’s high time Bangladesh – who have improved as a cricketing force in recent years – start turning in the results against the Black Caps.

Venue details

Seddon Park is a good venue for New Zealand. They have played 24 Tests in all at the venue, and have lost just six times. There have been seven draws too, making it 11 victories in all.

Two of those victories came against Bangladesh, in 2001 and 2010. The first one came in Bangladesh’s first tour to New Zealand, and they were soundly beaten by an innings and 52 runs.

In 2010, it was again a resounding victory, by 121 runs – the figure could have been much worse had it not been for Hasan’s century.

It’s a fine venue for the pacers. There’s plenty of movement on offer, and only recently, even the mighty India were made to struggle in an ODI here, bundled out for 92.

Conditions will be fine for cricket – clear skies are expected, and with a high of about 24°C, it’s not going to get too hot. Teams winning the toss are likely to field first – that’s been the pattern in 17 of the 24 Tests played at the venue.

New Zealand average 30.6 runs per wicket at Seddon Park – for Bangladesh, that drops to 25.07. Everything points to a New Zealand win.

Players to watch

Trent Boult (New Zealand): Boult was a menace at this venue in the ODI against India last month. His 5/21 caused all manner of problems for India, and he will once again look to use the movement on offer to trouble Bangladesh. The visitors will be wary.

Tamim Iqbal (Bangladesh): With injuries to Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim has to lead things as one of the seniors. He had a terrific BBL – he hammered 141 in the final – but hasn’t been able to carry that form to the internationals since then. He scored 5, 5 and 0 in the ODIs. In the Tests, with his team in desperate need, he has to deliver.

Likely XIs:

New Zealand: Jeet Raval, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling (wk), Colin de Grandhomme, Tim Southee, Todd Astle, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult

Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das (wk), Soumya Sarkar, Mominul Haque, Mohammad Mithun, Taijul Islam, Mahmudullah (c), Ebadot Hossain, Mehidy Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Khaled Ahmed

Prediction

New Zealand to coast to victory.