Bangladesh targets historic first

There is no doubting the fact that Bangladesh is a vastly improved side in whites, but how it fares against South Africa on foreign shores will be the real test of how far up Test cricket's evolutionary ladder the team has climbed.

The sides are set to meet in two Tests, three One-Day Internationals and two Twenty20 Internationals. The first Test in Potchefstroom from September 28 (Thursday), on a surface that is unlikely to assist the faster bowlers to any great extent, will provide a glimpse into how well Bangladesh will acquit itself over the next month.

South Africa is not nearly as filled to the brim with eye-popping talent as it would like, but on paper at least, it looks like it has enough in its arsenal to crash Bangladesh’s fine run in red-ball cricket.

After holding Sri Lanka down to a 1-1 draw in the two-match series on away soil at the start of the year, Bangladesh returned home to destroy Australia’s rusty line-up and fashion its first Test victory over the former world No. 1 late last month. Australia, though, bounced back to win the second Test by seven wickets and square the series.

Shakib Al Hasan was a crucial cog in each of those performances. That is why the task ahead of the visitor, already fairly substantial, has been further magnified by the absence of the star all-rounder. Shakib has opted for a break from Test cricket for six months. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) made it clear that although Shakib will not be considered for the opening game, he can join the side for the second Test in Bloemfontein from October 6.

In Shakib’s absence, Bangladesh will rely on its two most experienced players in the current squad - Mushfiqur Rahim, the captain, and Tamim Iqbal - to deliver with consistency to not only keep the South Africans at bay but also to provide the younger lot with a template. There is also the small matter of track record, which shows that Bangladesh has lost all of its four Tests in South Africa by an innings.

Still, it is not all doom and gloom for Bangladesh, which has grown as a Test entity over the last two years or so. The pitch at Senwes Park has slowed down in recent times and it is expected to assist spinners. In that case, Taijul Islam and Mehedi Hasan, Bangladesh's frontline spinners, will be licking their lips in anticipatory glee.

South Africa has been hit hard by injuries to its fast bowlers, with Vernon Philander, Chris Morris and Dale Steyn all missing in action.

While several of the host batsmen have feasted recently on runs in first-class cricket, Bangladesh didn’t exactly set the ground afire in its tour game against a Cricket South Africa XI in Benoni. South Africa possesses a quality line-up even in the absence of AB de Villiers and the retired JP Duminy. Faf du Plessis, the skipper, Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma will be quite a handful, though it is the opening slot that the host will eye with interest.

Aiden Markram is set to make his debut on Thursday and opening alongside Dean Elgar. If he can mirror his first-class form at the highest level, he should solve South Africa’s problems at the top of the order.

South Africa’s bowlers haven’t been in red-hot form in their respective first-class games, but there is no denying their depth and incisiveness. Apart from the fiery Kagiso Rabada, South Africa can fall back on Wayne Parnell, Duanne Olivier, Morne Morkel and Andile Phehlukwayo in a packed pace attack.

Keshav Maharaj, the slow left-armer, is the only frontline spinner in the squad and that could be of some concern should the pitch turn spin-friendly as the match progresses.

Teams (from):

South Africa: Faf du Plessis (capt), Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (wk), Theunis de Bruyn, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Duanne Olivier, Wayne Parnell, Andile Phehlukwayo.

Bangladesh: Mushfiqur Rahim (capt, wk), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Sabbir Rahman, Mahmudullah, Mominul Haque, Liton Das (wkt), Mehedi Hasan, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Subashis Roy.