Just curious what everyone else thinks, I've been keeping watch of the BD v SL series and the two things that stand out are that the pitches there are a 'Batting Paradise' and the BD bowlers are pretty ordinary …….
How would our boys go there if we were to play a 2 test series ????
Lets forget our boys haven't played for months and just pretend they've had a full domestic season under their belts …..
I reckon we would make big runs even though we don't play spin well the pitches don't seem to be assisting the spinners too much and the BD spinners are not too threating …….
Our bowling would struggle as pace is our strength and the pitches aren't giving much assistance to the seamers and spin is now our weakness since Cremer and Price have gone although the Bangladeshis love a slog and Utseya's tight bowling might induce a few, in saying this i still think we would struggle in the bowling stocks …..
With the quality of the pitches I reckon 0-0 after two tests ….
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How would we go in Bangladesh ???
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I think for a Zimbabwe tour Bangladesh would prepare more bowler-friendly pitches. Their spinners are decent and our batsmen can't play spin for the most part so I would favour Bangladesh. The current Zimbabwean side have yet to prove they can do much of anything outside of Zimbabwe, or even Harare.
My All-time Zimbabwe XI
Neil Johnson, Brendan Taylor, Murray Goodwin, Andy Flower (w), David Houghton, Sean Williams, Heath Streak (c), Andy Blignaut, Paul Strang, Eddo Brandes, Blessing Muzarabani
Neil Johnson, Brendan Taylor, Murray Goodwin, Andy Flower (w), David Houghton, Sean Williams, Heath Streak (c), Andy Blignaut, Paul Strang, Eddo Brandes, Blessing Muzarabani
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we would likely struggle. 1-0 BD
The Third Innings
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Yes, they would prepare minefields and unleash an army of left arm spinners. We stand no chance. We don't have a Sanga. I would be happy with a 1-0 BD result in a 2 test series.
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As a partial BD fan, I believe it would be 2-0 or 3-0 (provided it was a 3 Test series).
Although its theoretically possible that one or more of the venues might present a square turner like the Chittagong pitch where ZIM were skittled for 44 all out in an ODI, it is far more likely that the pitches will be typically flat, low and slow, with very little turn, and even less seam. A skillful swing bowler will get some assistance through the air with the new ball, so expect Vitori to get some movement in the first half hour of a new ball spell. Apart from that there will be no real assistance for any bowler.
It is my opinion that for a series against ZIM, we should prepare flat, belters of a wicket for the simple reason that it will allow us to bat Zimbabwe into submission. Overseas batting has been tough for all sides, as illustrated by the fact that home teams have only lost 3 Tests in the past 13 months. Thus, Bangladesh would bank on restricting ZIM to modest totals regardless of pitch conditions. Batting overseas is largely a mental thing and the Bangladesh bowlers would look to capitalize on an apprehensive ZIM lineup.
A minefield of a pitch could backfire on us. We would almost certainly bowl ZIM out cheaply, but would also risk being cleaned up ourselves.
We are scheduled to play later on this year and it will be interesting if the series goes down due to the FTP revisions and ZC finances. But its a series that BD fans would very keenly anticipate.
Although its theoretically possible that one or more of the venues might present a square turner like the Chittagong pitch where ZIM were skittled for 44 all out in an ODI, it is far more likely that the pitches will be typically flat, low and slow, with very little turn, and even less seam. A skillful swing bowler will get some assistance through the air with the new ball, so expect Vitori to get some movement in the first half hour of a new ball spell. Apart from that there will be no real assistance for any bowler.
It is my opinion that for a series against ZIM, we should prepare flat, belters of a wicket for the simple reason that it will allow us to bat Zimbabwe into submission. Overseas batting has been tough for all sides, as illustrated by the fact that home teams have only lost 3 Tests in the past 13 months. Thus, Bangladesh would bank on restricting ZIM to modest totals regardless of pitch conditions. Batting overseas is largely a mental thing and the Bangladesh bowlers would look to capitalize on an apprehensive ZIM lineup.
A minefield of a pitch could backfire on us. We would almost certainly bowl ZIM out cheaply, but would also risk being cleaned up ourselves.
We are scheduled to play later on this year and it will be interesting if the series goes down due to the FTP revisions and ZC finances. But its a series that BD fans would very keenly anticipate.
Bangladesh cricket fanatic, observer of all others.
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The thing is we don't really have any spinners that could capitalise on a minefield. Utseya is hardly going to run through the side.
My All-time Zimbabwe XI
Neil Johnson, Brendan Taylor, Murray Goodwin, Andy Flower (w), David Houghton, Sean Williams, Heath Streak (c), Andy Blignaut, Paul Strang, Eddo Brandes, Blessing Muzarabani
Neil Johnson, Brendan Taylor, Murray Goodwin, Andy Flower (w), David Houghton, Sean Williams, Heath Streak (c), Andy Blignaut, Paul Strang, Eddo Brandes, Blessing Muzarabani
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Of what I saw of Natsi Mushangwe in the West Indies ODI's, I reckon he has the potential to do just that. Puts a lot of revs on it, has a superb googly and bowls at just the right pace. An added bonus is that he seemed very accurate, more accurate of what I've seen from Ish Sodhi from the New Zealand attack. That guy looks like he can really succeed but just doesn't seem to have the control.
Apart form that, I can't think of any other spin bowlers knocking about now which could really do some damage.....which is a real real shame and only serves to highlight the lack of choice in our playing pool.
Apart form that, I can't think of any other spin bowlers knocking about now which could really do some damage.....which is a real real shame and only serves to highlight the lack of choice in our playing pool.
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Kriterion_BD wrote:
A minefield of a pitch could backfire on us. We would almost certainly bowl ZIM out cheaply, but would also risk being cleaned up ourselves.
Called that like I was Nostradamus. Will be interesting to see if we get a flat pitch in either Khulna or Chittagong for the remaining 2 tests and if I called that correctly too.
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Kriterion_BD wrote:
It is my opinion that for a series against ZIM, we should prepare flat, belters of a wicket for the simple reason that it will allow us to bat Zimbabwe into submission. Overseas batting has been tough for all sides, as illustrated by the fact that home teams have only lost 3 Tests in the past 13 months. Thus, Bangladesh would bank on restricting ZIM to modest totals regardless of pitch conditions. Batting overseas is largely a mental thing and the Bangladesh bowlers would look to capitalize on an apprehensive ZIM lineup.
Called this one too! Khulna pitch was flat, not as flat as the usual BD wicket, but it was flat. First day the pitch was super slow, ball refused to get onto bat, so ZIM I think actually benefited by losing the toss and getting the best batting conditions on Days 2 and 3. Of course it meant they had to bat last on a wearing pitch also, so essentially the toss was irrelevant in this match. Anything less than 200 runs or 7 wickets is not a blow out in my opinion, but 100+ runs and/or 5+ wickets is a comfortable win.
I'll bet Chittagong will be the same, flat surface that starts turning on Day 4.
Bangladesh cricket fanatic, observer of all others.
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