New Zealand v Bangladesh, 2nd Test, Christchurch – Preview

It will be an injury-hit Bangladesh that will take on New Zealand in the second and final Test in Christchurch starting on Friday (January 20).

New Zealand swept the visiting side 3-0 in both the preceding one-day and T20 series and will want to complete a tour sweep after its come-from-behind seven-wicket win in the first Test.

New Zealand will overtake Pakistan and move to fifth in the ICC team rankings in Tests should it complete a 2-0 Test victory, following a dramatic victory earlier this week in Wellington.

Bangladesh had broken several records in posting 595 in its first innings, only for that to be the highest first-innings total in a losing effort. The side was bowled out for 160 in its second outing, with Kane Williamson, the New Zealand captain, smashing a brisk unbeaten century.

Shakib Al Hasan’s double-century, Mushfiqur Rahim’s hundred, and fifties for Tamim Iqbal, Mominul Haque and Sabbir Rahman in the first innings were highlights for the visiting team, and it will hope for another batting effort of that variety.

However, it will go into Friday’s Test without the services of Mushfiqur, the captain, Imrul Kayes, the opener, and Mominul. Tamim Iqbal will be the stand-in skipper.

Mushfiqur was concussed after being hit on the head in the first Test by a short-pitched delivery from Tim Southee, but Bangladesh officials said it was a hairline thumb fracture that would keep him sidelined.

“His finger injury is worse,” Dean Conway, the team physiotherapist, told reporters. “The hairline crack that has been found is new. He will need to give more time for this injury.” The skipper would need three to four weeks to return, he added.

Kayes has been ruled out with a thigh injury while Mominul failed a fitness test on Thursday after bruising his ribcage.

“The X-ray on him came out clear but he was unable to make the necessary movements in training today and is not fit for the Test,” said a statement from the Bangladesh board.

All of them are expected to be available for the one-off Test against India in February.

The batsmen will have their task cut out in dealing with short-pitched bowling, which both teams employed in the first Test and are expected to keep at. There were anxious moments when Mushfiqur lay prone on the pitch, but both teams said the tactic was part of the game.

“I'm sure there'll still be some short-pitched bowling,” Trent Boult, the New Zealand pacer, said. “People have to realise why people are bowling short in the first place and that's to upset the batsmen and get them stuck on the crease to make the fuller ball more effective. You're not going in there with the intention of trying to hurt anyone – it's to make your other skills more effective and have a bit more purpose.”

The Bangladesh batsmen had proved they could handle it, he added. “It's a valuable skill as a fast bowler … They (Bangladesh) looked to be aggressive to it, picked their times down wind and into the wind when to play the short ball.”

Bangladesh also made liberal use of the tactic: Neil Wagner was struck on the helmet three times and suffered a cut chin when the protective grille was slammed into his face.

“The short ball is part of the game. I can't really complain about it. If we feel a certain batsman is not very comfortable against the short ball we might use that tactic,” said Tamim. “When New Zealand or any other team goes to our conditions they expect spin so I'm sure they don't complain about the ball spinning too much so why should we complain about bouncing.”

Apart from the bowlers, Williamson had proved to be Bangladesh’s biggest threat. The New Zealand skipper guided his side to the win with his unbeaten 104. His 15th century put him one behind Ross Taylor, who in turn is one behind the New Zealand record of 17 held by the late Martin Crowe.

Mike Hesson, the New Zealand coach, said the race between Williamson and Taylor to overtake Crowe can only be good for New Zealand. “I hope they not only go past [Crowe's] record but they keep going toe-for-toe for a while.”

For now, the immediate motivation will be a 2-0 scoreline.