House Check wins over Australia and England, beating Sri Lanka and New Zealand in away Assessments. Most importantly, a Check collection triumph in Pakistan in opposition to all odds earlier this month… All of it ought to give Bangladesh confidence forward of the two-Check collection in opposition to India beginning on Thursday. However in line with Wasim Jaffer and Sridharan Sriram, two coaches who’ve labored within the Bangladesh set-up in latest instances, the upcoming project is a unique ball recreation altogether.
A 16-member Bangladesh squad, led by Najmul Hossain Shanto, arrived in Chennai on Sunday (Shakib Al Hasan is scheduled to hitch the staff on Tuesday from the UK). As they hit the nets on the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Monday afternoon, the excitement and confidence of their ranks was laborious to overlook. Having remained “noisy neighbours” over the previous decade, in sub-continental situations Bangladesh have proven that they don’t seem to be pushovers anymore.
A fortnight in the past, with the nation nonetheless recovering from months-long pupil protests that led to the incumbent authorities collapsing and the prime minister leaving the nation, Bangladesh arguably had their greatest second in Check historical past. After beating Pakistan regardless of conceding 448 within the first innings within the first Check, they recovered from 26/6 within the second to seal the collection 2-0.
Bangladesh staff hits the bottom working with their first follow session on the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. 🇧🇩 🫶#BCB #Cricket #INDvBAN #WTC25 pic.twitter.com/xH0OOpiCyr
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) September 16, 2024
Now, as they set foot in India for less than their second full-fledged collection since turning into a Check nation in 2000, they may face situations nearer to those they discover again dwelling in Bangladesh. The 2 venues – Chennai and Kanpur – have traditionally aided spinners, with the pitches providing gradual flip. However in line with Sriram and Jaffer, Bangladesh’s greatest problem can be in getting used to the SG ball.
The SG ball, used for Assessments in India, is understood to be spinners’ favorite because the seam tends to last more and it takes time to get comfortable. However visiting spinners, particularly on conventional Indian decks which take time to bear put on and tear, have traditionally struggled to bowl with the SG selection with Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralidharan too being no exceptions.
And Bangladesh, whose greatest power is their military of spinners – Shakib, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam and Nayeem Hasan – may have their process lower out in Chennai, the place a red-soil strip has been rolled out for the primary Check.
“Again dwelling they play on black soil pitches, the place the ball normally retains low and takes gradual flip. However on pink soil surfaces, the traits are completely completely different,” Sriram tells The Indian Specific. “Right here (Chennai), other than the flip, one has to issue within the bounce as effectively. If the situations help spinners, it is going to flip and bounce extra. In order a spinner, your seam positioning and launch have to alter. Even the trajectory – it’s normally low again dwelling in order that deliveries skid on – must be labored on,” says Sriram, who has labored within the Bangladesh white-ball arrange at two World Cups.
The suitable pitch
With black soil pitches normally being on the slower facet and the bounce decrease, Bangladesh spinners have relished such situations. When India final toured Bangladesh in the direction of the tip of 2022, the hosts got here near springing a shock earlier than Shreyas Iyer and Ravichandran Ashwin bailed them out in a tough chase at Mirpur.
That India have most well-liked to go together with a red-soil floor is a transparent signal that they’re exhibiting Bangladesh spinners respect. Their 4 spinners have 647 Check wickets between them, which simply make them the strongest unit to go to Indian shores in latest instances. With a well-rounded tempo assault to enrich, and given Indian batsmen’s struggles in opposition to spinners lately, they’ve it in them to stretch the hosts supplied their plans work to the T.
“Spinners will certainly just like the SG ball, however in case you are not used to the angle of the seam and the discharge, you’ll battle. If you happen to don’t do these items proper, you’ll not get sufficient buy from the pitch. They’ve an excellent spin assault, however in Ashwin and (Ravindra) Jadeja, India have two spinners who will make full use of the situations,” says Sriram, who visited the Bangladesh web session within the afternoon.
Bangladesh Workforce arrive in Chennai for the primary Check of their ICC WTC collection in opposition to India.#BCB #Cricket #BDCricket #Bangladesh #INDvsBAN pic.twitter.com/wBwapu3jep
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) September 15, 2024
Whereas Bangladesh went with simply two spinners (Mehidy and Shakib) in opposition to Pakistan, it stays to be seen whether or not they go together with an extra spinner in India. “They’ve three high quality spinners, however in case you ask me, Nayeem could possibly be an attention-grabbing prospect,” says Sriram in regards to the 6-foot tall off-spinner.
Not simple for batsmen both
Jaffer believes Bangladesh batting unit must deal with the SG ball, which can hold not simply India’s spinners but in addition their pacers in play. “They’re a aggressive facet in sub-continental situations and their confidence will naturally be excessive after their latest success in Pakistan. They have been fairly complete wins too, from 26/6 in case you go on to win a Check, it is going to carry your confidence and you’ll consider you are able to do it from any state of affairs. However India will probably be a unique cup of tea,” Jaffer warns.
Jaffer’s warning isn’t with no cause. Because the begin of 2013, India have misplaced only a handful of Check matches at dwelling. And in latest instances, even when the opposition will get previous the spinners, their quick bowlers have inflicted telling blows.
“India at house is a tricky opposition they usually have not often misplaced a match within the final 10 years. Taking part in with SG balls means their (Bangladesh’s) batsmen additionally must get used to the additional bounce that will probably be on supply. Additionally, reverse-swing will probably be an element right here, which they don’t seem to be used to as a lot. Bangladesh have batting line-up, however in these situations, it’s essential present good utility. If you need to win right here, you need to bat effectively in each innings and in opposition to this Indian assault, it’s a mighty process,” Jaffer feels.
The problem of enjoying with the SG ball is one thing Bangladesh have been getting ready for. Quickly after they returned from Pakistan, that they had a five-day camp in Mirpur, the place they practised with SG balls as they’re used to enjoying with Kookaburras in home cricket.
“The ball will probably be a unique one in India. It’s a little more durable to play in opposition to the SG ball. The Kookaburra ball is simpler to play when it will get outdated. It’s the reverse with the SG ball. It’s more durable to get away in opposition to the outdated ball,” wicketkeeper-batsman Litton Das had stated previous to their camp.