Bangladesh and New Zealand meet for their first World Test Championship

 

Bangladesh and New Zealand meet for their first World Test Championship

The inaugural Test match post the World Cup in India is happening in Sylhet, which, while not distant geographically, presents a vastly different atmosphere. New Zealand and Bangladesh, after an eight-month and five-month hiatus from Test cricket, respectively, kick off their World Test Championship campaign, making this encounter crucial for accumulating points.

In the previous cycle, New Zealand, despite being defending champions, fell well short of the final. This outcome likely spurred them to be more focused, evident in bringing their top squad for this tour, unlike the second-string team sent for the ODIs in September. The dynamics have shifted since then.

The batting lineup, led by Kane Williamson and featuring Tom Latham, Devon Conway, and Henry Nicholls in the top four, is reinforced by the confidence of Daryl Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra, who collectively scored five centuries in the World Cup.

Captain Tim Southee heads a likely spin-centric bowling attack, with Ish Sodhi, who claimed a six-for against Bangladesh earlier this year in a different format, in contention. Mitchell Santner, absent from Test cricket for over two years, could make a comeback, and Ajaz Patel is a significant option. Ravindra's all-round skills and Neil Wagner, as the potential second seamer with Southee, add depth to the bowling arsenal.

For Bangladesh, a swift return to the field is motivated by a disappointing World Cup and the absence of key players, including Captain Shakib Al Hasan, deputy Litton Das, Taskin Ahmed, and Ebadot Hossain due to injuries or leave. Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Zakir Hasan are likely openers, while captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mominul Haque, and Mushfiqur Rahim will play pivotal roles in the batting lineup. The bowling responsibilities fall on the relatively inexperienced Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz.

Despite challenges, Sylhet offers Bangladesh an opportunity to shift the narrative away from the World Cup disappointments.