Zimbabwe v Bangladesh - Zimbabwe might surprise Bangladesh!

The Zimbabwe tour has not started the way the touring sides wish to start. Normally, an experienced Test team is expected to start the tour on a winning note by essaying victories in the warm up games. But sadly, the Tigers have started the Zimbabwe tour by losing against a side – the Zimbabwe XI – who were weaker than them. Not the perfect way to start a tour where the Tigers are favourites to win.  

The headache of Shakib and Stuart law is the batting. In both innings the Bangladeshi batsmen had failed to deliver the goods. A long break from Test cricket and too much engagement with limited-overs cricket have been the excuses. But don’t forget that, Zimbabwe’s situation has been worse than any Test playing nation – they have returned to play Test cricket after a long hibernation. In that sense, it was them and not Bangladesh who should have suffered from lack of temperament. 

Bangladesh’s main problem is their lack of interest in occupying the crease. In Test cricket, spending more time at the crease is a must. Otherwise, it’s tough to exist in this topsy-turvy world of Test cricket. Sadly, Bangladesh still haven’t learned to occupy the crease despite spending eleven years in Test cricket.

Players like Mohammad Ashraful and Junaid Siddique have played longer version games against South Africa A while Imrul Kayes and Shahriar Nafees had been in fine form in the domestic games as well. But none of the above mentioned names exhibited any sort of Test temperament in the tour match. Above all, the captain Shakib Al Hasan still hasn’t overcome his poor batting form. The bad effect of Twenty20 cricket is still evident in his batting. Had Mushfiqur Rahim and Nasir Hossain not clicked in the first innings, the batting would have been a sorry tale!

The bowlers rescued Bangladesh in the first innings, but it was Zimbabwe who bounced back when it was needed the most. But to do well in Test cricket; batting, bowling and fielding must fire equally. Just depending on one section is never a surety for success.

Zimbabwe are returning to Test cricket after six years, while the Tigers are resuming Test cricket after 14 months.  In a sense Bangladesh are the favourites, but mind you, the Zimbabweans have prepared better for this one-off Test match better than their visitors.

While, the Tigers were busy playing limited-overs cricket, Zimbabwe polished themselves by playing four-day matches against teams like South Africa and Australia A teams. Yes, the results were not something extra-ordinary but there have been some encouraging individual performances both by the batsmen and bowlers and as a unit the Zimbabwe looked enough determined. As the Zimbabwe Alan Butcher argued that his team would click if both groups performed well during the course of a match and it was evident during the tour match.

Whereas, few members of the current Bangladesh team such as Nasir Hossain, Junaid Siddique and the recalled Mohammad Ashraful, have played a couple of unofficial Tests for Bangladesh A against South Africa A in April, Bangladesh's preparations have been limited to a long fitness camp and some two-day games against the Academy side before the tour. The Bangladeshi players were seen busy playing Twenty20 cricket.

Zimbabwe are not as strong as Bangladesh, but they have the ability to surprise the Tigers. Players like Brendan Taylor and Raymond Price are dangerous customers and can make the team gel together with their individual brilliance. Again, the Harare track will suit the home side more than the visitors.

Shakib Al Hasan sounded positive before leaving Bangladesh, but deep down he is well aware of the fact that his team is not well-prepared for Test cricket. Zimbabwe might not have a Shakib or Tamim but they have prepared well than the Tigers by spending more time playing longer-version cricket and have developed a Test temperament to challenge the Tigers.

I shall not be surprised if Zimbabwe leave us stunned with a dramatic win on their return to Test cricket.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar