Bangladesh, the host must play the second Test well to level the series after a shocking loss in Chattogram against West Indies
Kyle Mayers played an incredible knock of 210 to take his side across the line in the first Test at Chattogram after chasing the fifth-highest run chase in Test history. Bangladesh has a lot of work to do in the final Test, starting from Thursday.
Four days after facing one of the stunning defeats in the history of Test cricket, Bangladesh will now lock horns with the visitors in Dhaka to level the two-match Test series.
The shock waves started on Sunday defeat when West Indies chased the monstrous 395-7 in the last innings to record the fifth-highest run chase in the 144-year history of Test cricket, will still haunt Bangladesh in the second Test on Thursday at Dhaka.
Their moods went worse after they got the news that their list of injuries had grown. The magical all-rounder, Shakib Al Hasan and opening batsman, Shadman Islam were both ruled out from the Test following a thigh and hip injuries.
Bangladesh skipper, Mominul Haque said on Wednesday that they have left behind the Sunday’s nightmare when Kyle Mayers scored an outstanding 210* in the runs chase.
“What happened, happened. We shouldn’t think much about that. We want to take positives from the match and move on,”
said Mominul Haque.
Mominul Haque scored his 10th Test century in the second innings of the game was among one of the top knocks from Bangladesh including the all-rounding performance from Mehidy Hasan Miraz who made 108 batting at eight in the first innings, also picked up four wickets in each of the West Indies innings.
But, it is still that three-wicket loss that will haunt them for longtime including the recent injuries that they faced.
Shakib was unable to bat and ball in the second innings at Chittagong following a thigh injury while Shadman who made 59 in the first innings injured his hip while fielding on the fourth day after falling awkwardly.
Batsman Soumya Sarkar has been called off as a replacement for Shakib Al Hasan but no one has been called as a replacement for Shadman.
Apart from the injuries, Mominul said that the team will learn to form their mistakes in the first Test and he is eager to lead Bangladesh well in the second Test.
“From here we could learn many things, especially how to handle a situation, how to set up fielding in this situation,”
he said.
West Indies batsman, Nkrumah Bonner, one of the survivors of day 5 hit a cautious note at Tuesday’s virtual press conference.
“We start from zero again,”
said the 32-year-old Jamaican who scored 86 and shared a crucial 216-run partnership with fellow debutant Mayers for the fourth wicket.
“We have to go back to the process. We have to practice and prepare well.
“It is going to be a different wicket, ground and everything. We need to assess again. Going over the processes and ensuring we do well.
“We are not trying to be overconfident or take anything for granted. “Bangladesh is a good team, especially in their conditions. We know it is going to be tough, but we are looking for a bigger challenge.”
Bangladesh Test squad: Mominul Haque (c), Tamim Iqbal, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mithun, Liton Das, Yasir Ali Chowdhury, Saif Hassan, Mustafizur Rahman, Mehidy Hassan, Taijul Islam, Soumya Sarkar, Nayeem Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Abu Jayed, Ebadat Hossain, Hasan Mahmud
West Indies Test squad: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, John Campbell, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Kavem Hodge, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Shayne Moseley, Veerasammy Permaul, Kemar Roach, Raymon Reifer, Jomel Warrican