Bangladesh await inexperienced Ireland on their return to Test cricket
Big image – lack of expertise a fear for Ireland
Ireland have 9 uncapped gamers of their Test squad. Three of them have by no means performed first-class cricket. They even have simply 4 survivors from their final Test, again in 2019. Opposite them are Bangladesh, with 473 caps of their Test squad. They have been additionally fairly dominant within the white-ball leg of the collection in Sylhet and Chattogram, so the Dhaka Test has the potential to be an uneven contest.
The seven-wicket within the closing T20I in Chattogram ought to, nonetheless, give Ireland some confidence. It was their first win on tour, with the batting, bowling and fielding lastly coming collectively. One of the massive stars of the present, Paul Stirling, has gone again residence as he isn’t a part of the Test set-up. however they’ll have common captain Andy Balbirnie again on the helm after taking a break from the T20Is.
The Ireland social gathering additionally has PJ Moor, the previous Zimbabwe wicketkeeper-batter who’s now an Ireland cricketer. He has performed eight Test matches. Ireland have performed solely three in all these years. He additionally has expertise enjoying in Bangladesh. His final Test was additionally in Dhaka, in 2018.
Mark Adair will lead the bowling assault with Graham Hume, Fionn Hand and Thomas Mayes within the tempo division. Andy McBrine is probably the most skilled spinner within the facet that additionally has legspinner Ben White, who was spectacular within the T20Is, and left-arm spinner Matthew Humphreys.
Ireland have two Tests in Sri Lanka to comply with, this recreation will give them an opportunity to get used to the situations and determine their model of Test cricket.
Bangladesh have been at full energy, however a late announcement that Taskin Ahmed has been dominated out with a facet pressure has marred that. “Taskin underwent an MRI today which confirmed that he has a left side strain (grade 2), ” nationwide group physio Bayjedul Islam Khan stated. “Such injuries take about four weeks to recover from.” There can be uncertainty surrounding Tamim Iqbal’s availability.*
Shakib Al Hasan and Litton Das make up the management duo, whereas Ebadot Hossain have returned to the facet after they missed the India Tests in December. Zakir Hasan is the massive miss after his profitable Test debut, with a left thumb damage maintaining him out. Shadman Islam has returned in his place.
Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mominul Haque and Shakib will bridge the highest and middle-order, with Tamim on the prime and Mushfiqur Rahim coming in after that. But who will accomplice Tamim – Shadman or Mahmudul Hasan Joy?
Litton Das discovered a excessive gear within the T20Is in opposition to Ireland, ending with the best strike fee (minimal 100 runs) by a Bangladesh batter in a T20I collection – 198.52. Litton was additionally Bangladesh’s highest Test scorer final 12 months, regardless of largely batting within the lower-middle order. Russell Domingo had predicted that it would not be lengthy earlier than Litton acquired a extra central batting function within the Test group. It might not be on this Test, however is actually across the nook.
Stirling apart, Curtis Campher was the one Ireland batter who confirmed a little bit of kind within the T20Is. Campher is anticipated to take the attacking choices even within the red-ball format. But in his solely first-class match, for Ireland A in Chattogram two years in the past, he spent greater than 4 hours within the center throughout two innings. Maybe he can play the lengthy recreation if wanted too.
Team news
Will each Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Shadman Islam begin, with Tamim maybe lacking? Taskin Ahmed’s late withdrawal additionally implies that Khaled Ahmed is more likely to take his place. Uncapped paceman Rejaur Rahman Raja has been added to the squad as Taskin’s alternative.
Bangladesh (possible): 1 Tamim Iqbal/Shadman Islam, 2 Mahmudul Hasan Joy, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 4 Mominul Haque, 5 Shakib Al Hasan (capt), 6 Mushfiqur Rahim, 7 Litton Das (wk), 8 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9 Taijul Islam, 10 Khaled Ahmed, 11 Ebadot Hossain
There must be a name between Matthew Humphreys and George Dockrell, who may lose out since he would not bowl anymore.
Ireland squad (possible): 1 Murray Commins, 2 James McCollum, 3 Andy Balbirnie, 4 Harry Tector, 5 PJ Moor, 6 Curtis Campher, 7 Lorcan Tucker (wk), 8 Mark Adair, 9 Andy McBrine, 10 Graham Hume, 11 Matthew Humphreys
Pitch and situations
Despite the notion that the Shere Bangla National Stadium solely caters to spinners, the typical first-innings whole right here within the final seven Tests is 446. The climate will largely be dry, although Dhaka has seen the odd spell of rain lately.
Humphreys, Thomas Mayes and White, who’re all in Ireland’s squad, have by no means performed first-class cricket.
Moor is the primary Test cricketer to maneuver away from Zimbabwe and play for an additional nation. Previously, John Traicos and Gary Ballance switched from South Africa and England, respectively, to play for Zimbabwe.
Mominul is nineteen runs in need of finishing 1000 Test runs on the Shere Bangla National Stadium. He has already scored 1205 runs on the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram.
Quotes
“We nearly won our last Test in this ground against India. It is our lucky ground. We have won Tests here before. We cannot take Ireland lightly. We respect them. We will give our best. The confidence within this team, keeps us in a good position. Since we haven’t won here for a while, it will be a good feeling if we can win.” Bangladesh allrounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz on not successful a Test in Mirpur since 2021.
“It is an exciting group. Certainly get the whites back on, dust off the white pads. We know how good Bangladesh are in Test cricket, particularly here. It will be challenging but exciting.” Ireland captain Andy Balbirnie on the prospect of enjoying a Test match after three years.
* 1400GMT The preview was up to date after stories of Tamim’s doable unavailability emerged
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84
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