Inexperienced NZ up for big challenge against full-strength Bangladesh in first T20I

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Inexperienced NZ up for big challenge against full-strength Bangladesh in first T20I
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Opportunity for NZ’s younger, inexperienced gamers to make a mark in robust situations

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Like most Bangladesh-New Zealand bilateral contests, the one starting on Wednesday in Dhaka has the acquainted one-sided really feel to it. Pitches and climate have usually contributed to it right here, the place the guests have gained only one out of their final eleven bilateral matches. But this time New Zealand’s choice to ship a very totally different workforce on their Bangladesh tour – to the one that can play the T20 World Cup – tilts the chances additional in the direction of the house facet.

It isn’t just their lack of expertise, though it’s laborious to overlook Bangladesh’s 602 caps in T20Is in the present squad in comparison with New Zealand’s hundred. The residence facet are typically thought-about masters of their very own and recognized situations. Much stronger New Zealand sides have capitulated in white-ball matches in 2010 and 2013.

Bangladesh are additionally a assured facet as of late, after crushing Australia 4-1 in the T20I collection in August, the place their bowling bailed their batters out extra instances than not.

Bangladesh are as a lot favorites at residence as New Zealand are in their yard against Bangladesh, and this collection will likely be an event to actual revenge for the battering March tour the place New Zealand gained all six white-ball matches.

The hosts are banking on the identical method with which they beat Australia. The sluggish and low pitches on the Shere Bangla National Stadium provides Shakib Al Hasan and Nasum Ahmed with sufficient biting spin with the brand new ball to decelerate usually marauding top-order batters.
The spinners’ accuracy threatens with wickets, earlier than Mustafizur Rahman’s cutters grip on the floor to additional stymie the batting line-up. Shoriful Islam has additionally impressed along with his variation whereas offspinner Mahedi Hasan has been able to bringing the odd breakthrough.

The residence facet has glitches in the opening partnership and a misfiring decrease order. Soumya Sarkar and Mohammad Naim struggled against Australia though they added a Bangladesh file 102-run opening stand against Zimbabwe in July.

But they anticipate Mushfiqur Rahim, who was lacking from the Australia collection, so as to add stability to the center order. Liton Das can also be thrown into the combo however it is going to be the Shakib-Rahim-Mahmudullah trio that can bridge the top-order with the middle-order, main into big hits in the final 5 overs.
New Zealand enter this territory with little or no expertise in their ranks. Colin de Grandhomme, Scott Kuggeleijn and captain Tom Latham are the one ones whose T20I profession are in double figures. Latham, who performed the final of these 13 T20Is in 2017, has to steer from the entrance with runs, together with Henry Nicholls, Tom Blundell and Will Young. They will sorely miss Finn Allen, who examined optimistic for Covid-19 two days after arriving in Dhaka.
Their three uncapped gamers – Cole McConchie, Rachin Ravindra and Ben Sears – might use this as an early lesson in subcontinent situations for the remainder of their careers. McConchie is a big hitting middle-order batter who bowls offspin, a useful choice given they’ve just one specialist spinner – Ajaz Patel – in the squad. Ravindra and Sears are a lot talked about as younger abilities in New Zealand’s cricketing circles.
The guests have six quick bowler to select from, with Hamish Bennett being the seniormost, in addition to the one one in the facet to have performed in Bangladesh earlier than, in 2010. Matt Henry becoming a member of up later in the collection, as substitute for Allen, will increase their bowling assault, however till then, their batting must do the heavy-lifting to have an opportunity of profitable the first T20I.

Form information

(final 5 accomplished matches; most up-to-date first)

England: WLWWW
India: WWWWL

Players to observe

Mushfiqur Rahim is the form of one that can be fired up to make up for lacking the Australia collection as a consequence of strict quarantine protocols. He will likely be a welcome addition to the center order that has to do the heavy lifting when the top-order has seemed inconsistent.

Injury robbed Colin de Grandhomme essential time in their final residence season, however this Bangladesh tour may very well be an actual alternative for him to remind the selectors of his high quality. de Grandhomme can also be recent from taking part in in the Hundred, though the pitches right here will likely be vastly totally different.

Team information

For Liton to make the reduce, Bangladesh must drop Soumya Sarkar, who has been the least profitable among the many three openers. Bangladesh had an harm scare throughout Monday’s coaching when Afif Hossain suffered a hand harm throughout nets, however it’s believed to not be critical.

Bangladesh (possible): 1 Mohammad Naim, 2 Liton Das, 3 Shakib Al Hasan, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim, 5 Mahmudullah (capt), 6 Nurul Hasan (wk), 7 Afif Hossain, 8 Mahedi Hasan, 9 Shoriful Islam, 10 Mustafizur Rahman, 11 Nasum Ahmed

New Zealand will make no less than ten modifications to the facet that final performed a T20I. Patel could lead on a three-man spin assault which might imply debuts for McConchie and Ravindra. For the first sport no less than, they may decide for expertise over youth in the tempo assault.

New Zealand (possible): 1 Henry Nicholls, 2 Will Young, 3 Rachin Ravindra, 4 Tom Latham (capt & wk), 5 Tom Blundell, 6 Cole McConchie, 7 Colin de Grandhomme, 8 Doug Bracewell, 9 Scott Kuggeleijn, 10 Hamish Bennett, 11 Ajaz Patel

Pitch and situations

The low and sluggish pitches are more likely to proceed the place groups batting first have averaged round 125 in the earlier T20I collection. There’s a slight risk of rain.

Stats

  • Bennett is the one one in this squad to have performed worldwide cricket in Bangladesh, however Sears and Ravindra too have toured earlier than to play in the Under-19 World Cup in 2016.
  • Will Young is the one New Zealand participant in the present facet who performed their final T20I in April.

Quotes

“There are a lot of allrounders in the group, which makes it easier to find the right combination. We have some new guys in the group, some experienced and some inexperienced, so a mixture of that makes for an exciting tour.”
New Zealand captain Tom Latham

“The wicket is tough to predict in Dhaka at any time but I feel it is better to have a positive mindset. We can adjust during the match if we see it is different than what we predicted, rather than going into the game with a mindset that it will be a 110-120 wicket. That would be a negative mindset. If we can execute our plans, we will get a good score here.”
Bangladesh captainMahmudullah

Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84

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