Bangladesh v England Test Series....How Low Can You Go...Part 2

By Bigjoe

Commences Friday 12th March 0.3.30 GMT

A 3-0 England win in the ODI series would suggest that my preview for that series was not one of my better efforts. But, whilst that scoreline does not reflect it, it was a close affair, especially the 2nd ODI which Bangladesh looked like winning until an exceptional knock by Eoin Morgan saved the day for England.

Fri Mar 12 - Tue Mar 16	1st Test - Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong
Sat Mar 20 - Wed Mar 24	2nd Test - Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur

The main reason I opposed England was the likelihood that these pitches would be slow and low and that the England pace bowlers would find it difficult to take wickets as there would not be much swing or seam movement. That proved to be the case. The pitches were spinners paradises and it was no surprise to see Graeme Swann the most successful England bowler. There was no seam or swing movement for the likes of Broad and Sidebottom. As a result, Bangladesh got off to reasonable starts in all the games, however their usual naivety and inexperience saw them waste those decent starts.

The other reason I opposed England was the likelihood of them facing a predominantly spin attack on turning tracks. England have not excelled against spin on the sub continent in recent years and once again they looked uncomfortable against it. Kevin Pietersen yet again had a torrid time against slow left arm bowlers. England were hoping for KP to use this tour to get some much needed runs under his belt for bigger challenges ahead. But it appears that far from raising his confidence, this tour has knocked it and if he fails again in this test series, the pressure on him will increase.

I believe that England are worth opposing again for this two match Test Series. The reasoning is the same as it was for the ODI series. These pitches will remain slow and slow, England’s pace bowlers will

Going through a bad patch Kevin Pietersen

continue to struggle on them, and their batsmen will again be exposed to a predominantly spin attack.

Bangladesh got beaten in the one dayers, but in this longer format they will have a different approach. They know that if they can avoid defeat in either or both Test matches, it will be seen as a major victory. Obviously they would like to win a test, but they know that denying England victory will be a major achievement too and they will be setting their stall out to do just that.

They will be boosted by the likely return to the side of Mohammad Ashraful. A player of immense talent, but like Kevin Pietersen, one that is going through a bad patch. Bangladesh’s chances of drawing Tests will also be boosted by the likelihood that time will be lost to a combination of early morning fog and bad light that will curtail the final sessions.

Bangladesh’s recent series with India was played with the possibility of reduced overs each day and the same could be the case in this series. In that series against India, Bangladesh have several opportunities to deny India a win, but in the end they failed. England will not be used to these conditions as India were and I believe that this time, Bangladesh will a better fist of it and they will be confident of at least drawing one, if not both Tests.
England should see the return of Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott to the middle order. They took no part in the ODI series, but are regulars in the Test side and they both scored well in the warm up game against the Bangladesh A side. On the bowling front, Swann will again be the biggest threat and on these pitches, England may even be tempted to play James Treadwell as a second spinner, especially after his impressive showing in that warm up game.

Bangladesh showed signs of an improvement in this format with creditable efforts in defeats at home to India and away to New Zealand. They will have been disappointed in their ODI efforts, but know that it’s a different ball game in this longer format. They will have been encouraged by the fact that these slow low pitches will prove to be a good leveller and the likelihood of time lost to the weather can only aid them in their efforts to at least draw the Tests.

On the betting front, the markets are expecting a comfortable series win for England. I believe that if they do win it, it will be far from comfortable. I am confident that Bangladesh will at least draw one of the two tests, if not both and therefore my suggested bets for this series are:

In The Series Outright Market:

LAY England for 2 points Liability @ 1.25 on Betfair .

In The Series Correct Score Market:

LAY England to win 2-0 for 3 points liability@ 1.99 on Betfair

BACK Bangladesh to win 1-0 for 1 point @ 15.0 at Paddy Power

BACK 0-0 Drawn Series for 1 point @ 18.0 at Betfair

Bigjoe