Bangladesh will begin their West Indies tour with the first Test of two-match series from tomorrow at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua starts at 8pm (Bangladesh time).
Tigers might be try to forget their previous bitter experiences of scoring their lowest Test innings of 43 runs, innings and 219 runs defeat at North Sound in 2018 when at the same ground they are going to start their tour with playing the first Test.
Tigers, in their 2018 tour, played two Tests and suffered humiliating defeats in both the matches to loss the series by 2-0.
First Test was ended on third day, when West Indies scored 406 runs in their first innings and Bangladesh were bundled out for 43 runs in their first innings and could manage 144 runs in the second innings to suffer innings and 219 runs defeat.
Tigers could not get rid of the frustration of the innings defeat in the first Test at North Sound, when the Caribbean side inflicted 166 runs defeat in the second Test at Kinston.
After the big blow in the first Test, Tigers could have at least a draw in the second Test, though it was tough job. But after booking the West Indies for 354 runs, Tigers were all out for 149 runs. Bowlers brought some excitement and tipped off to make something outstanding when they booked the hosts for 129 runs in the second innings with Shakib Al Hassan, the then captain captured six wickets with Mehdy Miraz, Abu Jayed and Taijul Islam joined with him taking two and one wicket each respectively. But it was another dismal batting display from the Tigers’ batter, as they could not keep their head high against the bowling attacks led by Jason Holders.
Holders picked up six wickets and his partners Roshton Chase two, Shannon Gabriel one and Kemo Paul one shared one wicket each to restrict Bangladesh for 168 runs.
However, might be it would be an advantage for Bangladesh when West Indies will play almost with a new side when most of the danger men, specially the bowlers of 2018 team, who just devastated the Tigers innings are absent.
Opening batsman Kraig Brathwaite, who hammered two centuries in three innings (West Indies won first Test by innings and 219 runs) is expected to open the innings this time also but his opening partner Devon Smith, middle orders Shai Hope are not in this squad.
The bowling force, comprised with bowlers like Jason Holder, Shannon Gabriel, Miguel Cummins and Kemar Roach, who eventually were the premier characters to play the key role of thrashing Bangladesh are not in this squad.
On the other hands, most the players of Bangladesh team are experienced playing at this ground apart from missing Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad and Mahmudul Hassan Joy but the successful bowlers of that tour Shakib Al Hassan and Taijul Islam along with batters, Liton Das, Nazmul Hossain Shanto and Nurul Hassan are remain in this team.
It can be mentioned that Nurul Hassan scored highest 64 runs off 144 team’s total in the second innings of the first Test, when Bangladesh suffered innings defeat at this (Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound) ground.
Tigers, who will play with some experienced players have every chance to do well against the current West Indies team, comprised with some new faces.
