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New Zealand tour of Bangladesh to play 2 Tests (2023)

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A spin-heavy BLACKCAPS Test squad featuring the return of Kyle Jamieson, Rachin Ravindra and Mitchell Santner has been selected for a two-Test series in Bangladesh starting later this month.

The series marks the start of the third cycle of the ICC World Test Championship for the BLACKCAPS and will feature a coaching team led by Luke Ronchi, as regular head coach as Gary Stead heads home following the ICC Cricket World Cup in India to prepare for a busy home summer.

Ronchi’s assistants in Bangladesh will be bowling coaches Jacob Oram (pace) and Saqlain Mushtaq (spin), along with Daniel Flynn, who joins the side for the first time as batting coach.

With spin friendly conditions expected in Bangladesh, the squad has been selected accordingly.

Santner returns to the side having played the last of his 24 Tests in 2021 against England at Lord’s, and joins Ajaz Patel and Ish Sodhi as the front-line spinners.

Santner’s selection follows his most successful Plunket Shield season for Northern Districts in 2022/23 where the 31-year-old claimed 15 wickets at 26 and averaged 52 with the bat.

The spin options are further boosted by off-spinning all-rounders Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips who return to the Test squad off the back of impressive performances at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India.

Ravindra, who has notched three centuries at the World Cup, returns for his first assignment in whites since the first Test against Bangladesh at Bay Oval in January 2022, while Phillips is included in the touring Test squad once again after travelling to Pakistan in December/January.

Kyle Jamieson also makes a welcome return to the Test squad after undergoing back-surgery in February, joining captain Tim Southee and Matt Henry in a three-man pace attack.

The 28-year-old pace-bowler has captured 72 wickets at 19 in just 16 Tests, becoming the fastest New Zealander to reach 50 Test wickets (in nine Tests) and was named Player of the Match in the successful ICC World Test Championship in 2021.

Henry has remained in India with the BLACKCAPS to rehabilitate the right hamstring injury he sustained last week which ruled him out of the ODI World Cup.

BLACKCAPS selector Sam Wells said the squad was picked very much with the touring conditions in mind.

“We’ve selected a squad we think can compete and succeed in Bangladesh,” said Wells.

“With Ajaz, Ish, Mitch, Glenn and Rachin, we have a strong spin group that will offer good variety and options during the series.

“Mitch had a strong back half of the Plunket Shield campaign last summer and has made good strides in his red-ball bowling.

“He brings a wealth of experience in sub-continent conditions and adds depth to the batting line-up as a genuine allrounder.

“Rachin brings a left-arm orthodox option and has improved considerably over the past 18 months with the ball - and his performances with the bat at the World Cup speak for themselves.

“It’s great to be able to call upon the services of Kyle again after a period out of the team and he will bring a different dimension to the pace group.”

Wells said the beginning of a new World Test Championship cycle was an exciting time for the side.

“The BLACKCAPS have a proud history in the WTC having won the first edition,” he said.

“It’s a tournament the team and our fans care deeply about.

“We’ve seen in previous editions how important any points away from home can be and the squad know they have a big challenge ahead in foreign conditions.”

Wellington Firebirds allrounder Michael Bracewell was unavailable for selection as he continues his recovery from a ruptured achilles.

Trent Boult was not considered for selection after making himself unavailable for the tour.

BLACKCAPS Test squad v Bangladesh

Tim Southee (c)
Tom Blundell (wk)
Devon Conway
Matt Henry
Kyle Jamieson
Tom Latham
Daryl Mitchell
Henry Nicholls
Ajaz Patel
Glenn Phillips
Rachin Ravindra
Mitchell Santner
Ish Sodhi
Kane Williamson
Will Young

Only two players from the squad (Kane Williamson and Ish Sodhi) featured last time Bangladesh hosted the BLACKCAPS in a Test series in 2013. The two-match series was drawn 0-0.

While it’s the first time with the team in a coaching capacity for Flynn, Oram was with the side as bowling coach on the COVID-19-interrupted Chappell Hadlee series in Australia in 2020, while Mushtaq assisted on the recent white-ball tour of Pakistan in April.

The BLACKCAPS will utilise part-time assistant coaches during the home summer and will look to appoint a full-time bowling coach after the ICC T20 World Cup in June.

The New Zealand based BLACKCAPS will depart for Bangladesh on November 21.

The first test match will be played from November 28 to December 2, 2023.

Bangladesh v BLACKCAPS Test series

Two-day warm-up match – 23-24 November - Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Sylhet
1st Test – 28 November – 2 December - Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Sylhet
2nd Test – 6-10 December - Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka
 
It would be tough for new zealnd to play tests on spin heavy wickets.

I think its going to be a clean sweep by Bangladesh.
 
While I support sporting/flat pitches for ODI and T20, I think spin pitch is good for a subcontinental Test.

BD should go for dustbowl pitches for both games.
 
Wagner replaces injured Henry for Bangladesh Tests

Northern Districts paceman Neil Wagner has been called up to the BLACKCAPS Test squad for Bangladesh to replace the injured Matt Henry.

Henry has been recovering in New Zealand after tearing his right hamstring mid-way through the ICC Cricket World Cup in India.

Following further scans and assessments this week, it was deemed the injury had not sufficiently healed to have him ready and available for Test match cricket.

With the first of two Tests starting in less than two weeks on November 28, the decision was made to call up 63-Test BLACKCAP Wagner.

Wagner returned to the Plunket Shield for Northern Districts in Dunedin this week after overcoming a back-injury which saw him miss rounds two and three of the competition.

BLACKCAPS selector Sam Wells said they were lucky to have a player of Wagner’s calibre to call on.

“It’ll be great to have Neil’s skill and experience on the tour of Bangladesh,” he said.

“His record speaks for itself and we all know what a great competitor he is.

“He’s played plenty of cricket in the sub-continent and I know he’s really excited by the challenge ahead.”

Wagner played starring roles at the end of the BLACKAPS home Test summer earlier this year before he was sidelined by a hamstring injury.

His day five heroics with the ball saw him claim the final wicket to clinch a dramatic one-run victory over England in Wellington in late February, before he defied a torn-hamstring to run a final-ball bye with Kane Williamson to down Sri Lanka in Christchurch.

The New Zealand-based BLACKCAPS Test players depart for Bangladesh on Tuesday November 21.

The majority of the squad who also featured at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India are currently in Dubai recovering before they relocate to Sylhet next week.

The first Test starts on November 28 with the second and final Test in Dhaka starting December 6.

The BLACKCAPS and Bangladesh then open the men’s International home summer in New Zealand later in December with two white-ball series leading into Christmas and New Year.

BLACKCAPS Test squad v Bangladesh

Tim Southee (c)

Tom Blundell (wk)

Devon Conway

Kyle Jamieson

Tom Latham

Daryl Mitchell

Henry Nicholls

Ajaz Patel

Glenn Phillips

Rachin Ravindra

Mitchell Santner

Ish Sodhi

Neil Wagner

Kane Williamson

Will Young

Bangladesh v BLACKCAPS Test series

1st Test – 28 November – 2 December - Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Sylhet

2nd Test – 6-10 December - Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka
 
NZ will give tough time to BD, Santner Sodhi and Patel all 3 should play and hopefully Rachin Ravindra will amass runs.

Conway
Rachin
KW
Mitchell
Latham
Blundell
Santner
Sodhi
Patel
Southee
Wagner
 
New Zealand are hoping their recent experience at the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup in India will help them adapt to the conditions expected in Bangladesh when they commence their ICC World Test Championship campaign this week.

The Black Caps crashed out of the 50-over World Cup when falling to a disappointing 70-run loss to eventual runners up India in the semi-final stage of the tournament and need to quickly turn their focus to the longest form of the game when they take on Bangladesh in a two-match Test series that starts in Sylhet on Tuesday.

The series will be New Zealand's first in the current World Test Championship cycle and key batter Daryl Mitchell is looking for a fast start to the competition as his side attempts to qualify for a second final following their success in the inaugural final in 2021.

But with the Kiwis set to play a total of 14 Tests during the current cycle, Mitchell knows his side have plenty of work ahead before they think about a potential place in the World Test Championship final at Lord's in the middle of 2025.

"We obviously know it is the end goal," Mitchell said. "That's what every country taking part in the World Test Championship wants to do. For us, it is about making small goals. Trying to tick off games as we go. First, we have to take on Bangladesh. It is always a tough challenge in Bangladesh.

"Conditions are foreign to us as Kiwis so it is about adapting as quickly as we can to these surfaces, and getting stuck to win little moments. It is what we are speaking about. We are not looking too far ahead. At the same time, you want to be part of those big games. That's why you play Test cricket."

Mitchell's form with the bat was one of the main reasons behind New Zealand's run to the knockout stage of the World Cup, with the right-hander contributing 552 runs and two centuries to finish as the fifth leading run-scorer at the tournament.

It also helped Mitchell win a place in the official ICC Team of the Tournament, an honour that the 32-year-old said was a great recognition to be named among such a talented group of players.

"It is cool to be recognised with (a place in the World Cup team of the tournament). It means you are contributing to the team and helping to win games," Mitchell said.

"There's not much time to reflect. We are straight into Test cricket. You want to stay present, and be ready to go for the Test team. But also, a very special eight weeks in India. Those memories will last a lifetime."

And Mitchell believes the fact his side performed admirably on spin friendly pitches at the World Cup will hold them in good stead when they are presented with conditions that are expected to be similar in Bangladesh.

"It would have been a big change if we came from the green wickets of New Zealand straight to Bangladesh," he said. "But for the majority of our group here, they have been in the World Cup. They have been practicing on slower and turning surfaces so that it helps us in this Test series."

"A bit more patience is required going from white ball to Test cricket. You can breathe and relax a little bit. The surfaces are turning. We will keep adapting. We will see what we get on day one.

"It is always special to play in that tournament (World Cup) in front of millions of people. It is also about recognising what an opportunity we have here at the start of the World Test Championship. How much it means to wear that baggy with the silver fern on."

New Zealand squad: Tim Southee (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Devon Conway, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Neil Wagner, Kane Williamson, Will Young

ICC
 
Resumption of Test action from tomorrow (1st Test BANv NZ) - as things stand now

1701068634547.png
 
New Zealand haven't played a Test in Bangladesh in over 10 years.

Last Test was in October of 2013. That series was drawn 0-0 due to rain primarily.
 
Bangladesh’s head coach Chandika Hathurusingha believes that the upcoming Test series against New Zealand is an exciting opportunity for the youngsters.

After an underwhelming ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup campaign, Bangladesh will change formats and take on New Zealand in a two-Test series at home.

The side will bear a new look, given a number of senior players are skipping the series due to various reasons. Shakib Al Hasan misses out due to a finger injury, Litton Das has been granted a paternity leave, and Taskin Ahmed has a shoulder niggle to manage.

Apart from them, senior opener Tamim Iqbal also remains out of contention.

Speaking to the reporters ahead of the game, Hathurusingha stated that losing this amount of experience was a significant setback for Bangladesh.

“It's challenging to lose that much of experience from any team, especially for Bangladesh. Those guys have been part of the Bangladesh team in every format for more than 15 years. Some of them for ten years.”

However, he added that this only meant that opportunities opened up for Bangladesh’s upcoming cricketing talent.

“It is however something to look forward to, to see what the youngsters can do,” Hathurusingha added that it was also a time for change. “I think it's a time that we need to move on from some of the players that have played for a long time. They are not going to be there forever.

“But this is happening because of many reasons. I think it's exciting and it's an opportunity for some of the youngsters to make their name and then have a long career.”

Bangladesh’s squad features three players uncapped at the Test level: Hasan Murad, Hasan Mahmud, and Shahadat Hossain Dipu.

At the same time, Hathurusingha was well aware of the challenge of having not played much red-ball cricket leading into the series. A number of Bangladesh’s players, however, managed to feature in the last round of their first-class National Cricket League, after arriving home from the World Cup.

“The challenge is these guys haven't played enough cricket leading up to. So our planning has to be a little bit better than this going forward and making a bigger pool of players available for every position in bowling and batting.

“We used the NCL matches for the guys who played the World Cup as preparation.

“Most of the batters made use of that opportunity. Most of the other players have been playing NCL. This is almost like a new-look Bangladesh team for various reasons. Not by design. I think we are ready as we can be and I'm looking forward to this Test series.”

The coach banked on his spin attack to deliver for the Tigers in the series.

“There is experience in Taijul [Islam] and [Mehidy Hasan] Miraz. Taijul has 177 Test wickets. Definitely, he'll be a leader of the attack and Miraz is playing since 2016 if I remember correctly,” Hathurusingha added. “Then there's young Murad and Naeem Hassan. I think playing on this condition and this heat, those guys, spinners mainly, will play a big role.”

The first Test commences on Tuesday, 28 November in Sylhet.

Bangladesh Test squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Shadman Islam, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mominul Haque, Shahadat Hossain Dipu, Mushfiqur Rahim, Nurul Hasan, Mahmudul Hasan, Taijul Islam, Naeem Hasan, Khaled Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Hasan Murad, Zakir Hasan.

Source: ICC
 
Sylhet: New Zealand’s captain Tim Southee said Monday he was looking forward to his side’s Test series against Bangladesh, saying he hoped the Kiwis spinners would outwit their “strong” opponents.

“The guys have a great desire for Test cricket,” Southee said ahead of the opening match of the two-Test series in Bangladesh’s northeastern city Sylhet on Tuesday.

“They say it is the pinnacle of the game. Whenever we play Test cricket, it is always special. We love and prioritise Test cricket”, he added.

New Zealand won the title of the opening World Test Championship in 2021 but finished sixth in the next cycle, which ended in 2023 with Australia beating India in the final.

The Kiwis have not won a Test in Bangladesh since their three-wicket win in Chittagong in 2008.

Their next three Tests, including both matches in a 2013 series, ended in a draw.

“The start of the new cycle is exciting,” Southee added. “It is a tough place to play Tests. Bangladesh are strong in these conditions.”

Southee said he hoped his spinners would tip the balance in their favour.

“It is foreign conditions compared to New Zealand — pace plays a big role in New Zealand, spin historically plays a big role in this part of the world,” Southee said.

“Our spinners have done some great things in Tests. We are looking forward to them showcasing their skills.”

The visitors named a spin-heavy squad for the upcoming series, with Mitchell Santner and Ajaz Patel joining Ish Sodhi along with two spin all-rounders, Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra.

Earlier this year, New Zealand ended their 15-year wait to win a series in Bangladesh, beating the home side 2-0 in the three-match One-day International series in September before they travelled to India for the ODI World Cup.

The Kiwis put up a credible show at that tournament, losing to hosts India in the semi-final.

Bangladesh, who won just two matches in the World Cup and finished eighth, also enter a new phase with the series.

Newly-appointed captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, a batsman, will take the field as his side’s leader for the first time, with regular captain Shakib Al Hasan and his deputy Liton Das taking a break.

“I will not say we are completely new, but less experienced. It was going to happen inevitably at some stage,” Najmul said.

“I would call it an opportunity for those who are young and new to the team; they should take it as a challenge,” he said.


The second Test of the series will be held in Dhaka from December 6-10.

AFP
 
Nz have quality batsman and good bowlers for Test cricket, Bangladesh will be thoroughly tested hopefully the wickets are not complete flat
 
Kianig89 said:
Nz have quality batsman and good bowlers for Test cricket, Bangladesh will be thoroughly tested hopefully the wickets are not complete flat
Click to expand...

Sylhet could be a bit on the flatter side but Mirpur is likely going to be a dustbowl.
 
I'll be surprised if NZL lose this series. BD have experienced so much recent turmoil on and off the field.

Then again BD did draw a series in NZL last year.
 
1st Test.

BD have won the toss and decided to bat first.

Teams:

Bangladesh (Playing XI): Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto(c), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shahadat Hossain, Nurul Hasan(w), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Naeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, Shoriful Islam

New Zealand (Playing XI): Devon Conway, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell(w), Glenn Phillips, Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee(c), Ajaz Patel

BD - 20/0 (6 overs).

Not a bad start.
 
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Bangladesh are playing 3 spinners and just 1 pacer.

NZ are playing 2 spinners and 2 pacers.

BD - 22/0 (8 overs).
 
BD - 70/1 (20 overs).

Shanto is counterattacking. 24* from 22 balls. Two sixes so far.
 
Good batting by Bangladeshi batters after losing a quick wicket. Really need to keep the upper hand by attacking the NZ bowlers to put more pressure on them.
 
sweep_shot said:
Shanto is out. Right at the stroke of lunch.

BD - 92/2 (24.2 overs).
Click to expand...

A maiden Test wicket for Glenn Phillips! The captain Shanto top-edges a full toss, it hangs in the air for an eternity and is taken well by Kane Williamson at long-on.

It's now Lunch with BD 104/2
 
Henry Nichollas has been failing since long. Glenn Phillips hasn't played test cricket since very long.
Not selecting Rachin for any of these 2 is very harsh by NZ.
 
Glenn Phillips stars for Black Caps versus Bangladesh on day one of first test

First test, Sylhet: Bangladesh 310-9 (Mahmudul Hasan Joy 86; Glenn Phillips 4-53, Kyle Jamieson 2-52, Ajaz Patel 2-76) versus New Zealand. Click here for full scoreboard.

Glenn Phillips would have been a longshot pick to be New Zealand’s top wicket-taker in the first innings of the first test against Bangladesh.

But in just his second test – almost four years after making his debut in Sydney against Australia – the allrounder led the Black Caps’ attack with four wickets to hand an advantage to the visitors on day one in Sylhet.

Bangladesh had nine batters in double figures, but just one went past 37 as the New Zealand bowlers overcame some frustrating moments to have their rivals 310-9 when bad light brought a premature stumps.

Phillips was a surprise section to many over Rachin Ravindra – New Zealand’s standout performer at the one-day World Cup – to provide plenty of spin assistance to Ajaz Patel and Ish Sodhi and bat at No.6 or No.7.

But the offspinner gave the side a player to turn the ball away from Bangladesh’s left-handed batters – with three of them in their top five – instead of the left-arm spin of Ravindra.

Phillips grabbed a cheap maiden test wicket with a ball that didn’t even hit the deck. He had added two more before his attempted slide to stop a boundary saw his knee get stuck deep into the soft turf and initially raised an injury concern.

But the 26-year-old, knowing a five-wicket bag was a prospect, refused to be replaced by the 12th man and picked up one more scalp to end the day with 4-53 from 16 overs. It was his best bowling return in first-class cricket, with 4-70 his previous mark in taking just 40 wickets in 49 first-class appearances at an average of 41.40.

Just before tea on day one, New Zealand were reflecting on the little joy they’d had.

Bangladesh, in contrast, were full of it – opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy was working his way towards a test century that was poised to make matters complicated for the visitors.

But the dismissal of Joy just four balls after the fall of the third wicket enabled the Black Caps to emerge the happier side at stumps, despite the hosts riding their luck for much of the opening day of the two-test series.

After losing the toss and being told to field, New Zealand went to spin after just six overs, introducing Patel, who erred a little on length but did make the breakthrough by getting a short ball to turn a lot to bowl Zakir Hasan.

New Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto played with intent from the outset, using his feet and hitting aerially at Patel.

At times it was like he was still at the World Cup – and Kane Williamson catching like he was too, with a replica of his backpedalling effort to dismiss Rohit Sharma in the semifinal against India to remove the skipper to the delight and embarrassment of Phillips.

Patel, Phillips and Ish Sodhi all bowled before lunch but weren’t able to settle into a consistent rhythm as the hosts tallied 46 runs from boundaries off the spinners – three sixes and seven fours – in the opening session.

The Bangladesh duo of Joy and Mominul Haque enjoyed a decent dose of good fortune for the majority of the second session, with snicks and mishits regularly just eluding the Black Caps fielders or the stumps.

But when it looked likely the bowlers may have to toil deep into day two, both set batters perished in the space of five balls, sparked by a sharp catch from wicketkeeper Tom Blundell to an underside edge from Mominul off Phillips, and wickets tumbled with useful regularity from then on.

Kyle Jamieson was chosen to play his first test in 17 months after recovering from the back problems that first struck during the second test against England last June.

Entrusted with the new ball - over the option of employing Neil Wagner as a potential troublemaker and workhorse with the old ball – the big seamer fully deserved his two scalps as he bothered all the batters with his bounce.

At times there was significant turn – which, while pleasing for the NZ spin trio, would have also been worrying to a side scheduled to bat last on a wicket which could break up under five days of sun.

The hosts opted to select just one quick bowler – left-armer Shoriful Islam – and will seek to exploit the conditions through three specialist spinners on day two.

For the Black Caps, batting once and batting big will be the aim.

www.stuff.co.nz

Glenn Phillips stars for Black Caps versus Bangladesh on day one of first test

Allrounder Glenn Phillips took four wickets on day one against Bangladesh; playing his second test almost four years after his debut.
www.stuff.co.nz www.stuff.co.nz
 
Bangladesh is all out for 310 at the Day 2 starts.
New Zealand has started its innings and has scored 11/0 in 6 overs.
 
2 quick wickets for Bangladesh as they got rid of both the openers.
NZ is 46/2 after 16.
 
Day 2 of the first test match betweenn New Zealand and Bangladesh:

First seesion ends.

1701236446495.png
 
After the start of the second session on day 2, New Zealand have lost their 3rd wicket now for 98. Nicholls is gone after scoring 19 runs.
 
This is how you waste 2 weeks in a 52 week calendar.

2 pointless teams playing a pointless format with no mainstream broadcaster or fans having any interest in it.
 
New Zealand has scored 190/5 after 61 overs as the third session fo the 2nd day continues. Kane Williamson is still going strong with 72.
 
Good work by Bangladesh - but yes this partnership could be a danger

BAN 310
NZ 237/5 (70) CRR: 3.39
Day 2: 3rd Session - New Zealand trail by 73 runs

Good stuff bd
 
BAN - 310

NZ - 266/8 (84 overs)

NZ are trailing by 44 runs.

Stumps for Day 2.
 
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Bangladesh is playing superbly, especially impressed with the batting of Mahmudul Hasan Joy. Fantastic innings of 86.
 
First test, day two, Sylhet: Bangladesh 310 versus New Zealand 266-8 (Kane Williamson 104, Glenn Phillips 42, Daryl Mitchell 41; Taijul Islam 4-89). Click here for full scoreboard.

There’s no guarantee how much longer Kane Williamson will bat for New Zealand in test cricket.

But in Bangladesh on Wednesday, the greatest run-scorer in the country’s history of the red-ball international game batted for long enough to produce another personal landmark and kept the Black Caps from being drastically behind the hosts in Sylhet.

Williamson became the first New Zealand player to score a century in four consecutive tests, and just the second – following Andrew Jones – to register three tons in consecutive test innings

Williamson was dismissed for 104 soon after Bangladesh had taken the second new ball and the Black Caps reached stumps at 266-8. Bangladesh were dismissed for 310 from the first ball of the day by NZ captain Tim Southee via the DRS.

His 29th century is 10 more than the next-best (Ross Taylor) on the test list for New Zealand and moved him to a tie for 16th in test history among all nations, alongside Don Bradman and Virat Kohli.

Williamson has feasted on Bangladeshi bowling throughout his test career, and while Wednesday’s fare was a tougher fare, he now has 787 runs at an average of 112.42 from nine innings against the current opposition.

The hosts would have still regretted a number of missed chances that, had they been taken, would have put them notably on top in an enticingly-poised encounter with three days still to play.

Just when it appeared Williamson was the only player maintaining his cool amongst a fervent home team excited by the prospect of establishing a significant first-innings advantage, he had a few minutes of flirting with calamity.

On 63, he was the subject of a thunderous lbw appeal against offspinner Nayeem Hasan. Williamson was given not out, Bangladesh chose not to review and while the TV replay indicated the ball would have collected part of the leg stump, it would have remained not out.

In the same over, after almost deflecting a catch to leg slip off his gloves, Williamson hit out in unfamiliar fashion into the leg side, where Taijul Islam dropped a simple chance low to his right at midwicket.

He also offered a catching chance to Shoriful Islam in the outfield off Nayeem when on 70 and narrowly avoided being stumped on 98, surviving by the rubber on the sole of his right boot.

Williamson missed five tests from December 2021 to the end of February 2022 with an elbow injury, and a knee injury suffered in the opening game of the 2023 IPL season saw him sidelined for seven months before making his return in the third game of the ODI World Cup in India last month.

Even then, he missed four further games when a ball thrown from the outfield in a rub-out attempt broke his left thumb.

One of the world’s best players of spin, the 33-year-old was sorely tested throughout his 205-ball stay, but his footwork and shot selection were a cut above. Rare loose balls were punished for boundaries, mostly through the offside, as he notched 11 fours.

Like the hosts on day one, New Zealand’s batters got starts, but only Williamson hung around for a big tally.
 
If BD can score 350-400 in 3rd innings, things can become tricky for NZ.

Batting last here is likely going to be challenging.
 
Rachin should have been selected here. It's not like there is surplus of options.

NZ don't have a good #4 so they should have dropped Nicholls and play Rachin Ravindra, it gives them a left arm spin option and he has shown in ODIs that he is such a world class batsman itself. He should do well in BD conditions as he plays spin well too.
 
Ab Fan said:
Rachin should have been selected here. It's not like there is surplus of options.

NZ don't have a good #4 so they should have dropped Nicholls and play Rachin Ravindra, it gives them a left arm spin option and he has shown in ODIs that he is such a world class batsman itself. He should do well in BD conditions as he plays spin well too.
Click to expand...

Agree.

Rachin should've replaced either Nicholls or Blundell (Latham could've kept then).

Rachin should be handy with the ball on these spin-friendly surfaces.
 
sweep_shot said:
Agree.

Rachin should've replaced either Nicholls or Blundell (Latham could've kept then).

Rachin should be handy with the ball on these spin-friendly surfaces.
Click to expand...

Blundell has been good for NZ as keeper batsman, averages 42. Nicholls is the obvious replacement.
 
BAN 310
NZ 314/8 (100) CRR: 3.14
Day 3: 1st Session - New Zealand lead by 4 runs

New Zealand take lead - BD in dire need of ending this innings
 
BD - 310-all out (1st innings).
NZ - 317-all out (1st innings).

BD - 19/0 (10 overs).

Lunch break.

BD are leading by 12 runs.
 
Bangladesh is 97/2 ATM, having a lead of 90 runs. Anything above 200 and they are in the game to win this one.
 
NZ 317
BAN 310 & 118/3 (42.3) CRR: 2.78
Day 3: 3rd Session - Bangladesh lead by 111 runs

looks a good lead now
 
NZ 317
BAN 310 & 158/3 (56.4 overs) CRR: 2.79
Day 3: 3rd Session - Bangladesh lead by 151 runs

Bangladesh is putting on a good show against the Kiwis. Get this lead past 200 maybe 250 plus and then kiwis will be finding it difficult to chase down.
 
Bangladesh is nearing a 200 lead against New Zealand.
The score is 197/3 after 64 overs.
 
Bangladesh has a chance here to do something neither Pakistan nor Sri Lanka have managed in 13 years - win a series vs New Zealand
 
First test, day three, Sylhet: Bangladesh 310 and 212-3 (Najmul Hossain Shanto 104 not out, Mushfiqur Rahim 43 not out, Mominul Haque 40) v New Zealand 317 (Kane Williamson 104, Glenn Phillips 42, Daryl Mitchell 41, Tim Southee 35; Taijul Islam 4-109, Mominul 3-4). Click here for full scoreboard.

A lack of penetration has left the Black Caps facing the blunt realisation that they face an uphill battle to avoid defeat in the first test in Bangladesh.

At stumps on day three of the first test, the hosts have a lead of 205 runs in their second innings, with seven wickets in hand, after skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (104 not out) played a potentially match-winning hand.

His unbeaten ton meant New Zealand will likely need the same brilliance and resilience again from former test captain and first-innings century-maker Kane Williamson – and this time with lengthier support from his fellow batters – when they bat a second time to avoid defeat or chase a win in their first game of their new World Test Championship campaign.

The visiting side’s spinners weren’t effective enough to regularly pressure the home side’s top and middle-order bats.

The spin trio of Ajaz Patel, Ish Sodhi and Glenn Phillips could manage just one wicket between them, with two of the home team’s departures resulting from run-outs.

Contrast that with part-time spinner Mominul Haque, who took 3-4 from 23 balls for the hosts in New Zealand’s first innings.

Shanto attempted to change the course of the game quickly in his side’s first innings, which led to his downfall. But his second dose of positivity had immediate – and lasting – effects. He rapidly reduced New Zealand’s attacking options with their field settings by often finding the boundary, and on a wicket where the ball was occasionally turning sharply, the visitors soon employed just two close-in catchers.

Carrying the guilt of being chiefly responsible for the run-out of Mominul Haque (40) after the pair had put on 90 for the third wicket, the left-hander paced the second-half of his 193-ball knock, while still tallying 10 boundaries. He got ideal support from veteran Mushfiqur Rahim as they added an unbroken 96 fo the fourth wicket.

The first session, expected to be spectacular after 18 wickets fell in the first two days and the wicket looking difficult to survive on, was instead soporific.

Few would have grumbled had New Zealand captain Tim Southee struck out boldly to lift his side from a precocious position, given the danger the Bangladesh spinners had posed the previous afternoon … ha, sorry, who are we kidding, almost everyone would have.

Instead, he faced 62 balls – it had been 52 months since he’d received that many deliveries in a test innings – chiefly with care and made a somewhat scratchy but potentially invaluable 35.

He added 52 for the ninth wicket with Kyle Jamieson (23) and in doing so, the 34-year-old became just the fourth player to score 2000 runs and take 200 wickets in tests for NZ – after Sir Richard Hadlee, Chris Cairns and Daniel Vettori.

The second session looked likely to be livelier when Zakir Hasan was out before his lunch had settled, but the only other success for New Zealand was when Southee deflected a drive from Shanto onto the stumps at the non-striker’s end with Mahmudul Hasan Joy backing up a fraction too far.
 
Fifth Test century and his third in 2023.

Superb captain's innings from Najmul Hossain Shanto
 
Lead of 205 runs. 7 wickets in hand.

They shouldn't get carried away. Should try to take the lead to 350 or even 400.
 
Taijul the best spinner so far in this game. So good to see a left arm spinner like him
 
shamaan said:
300 is a very good score on this pitch.
Click to expand...

A good bowling attack can definitely defend 300 on this pitch.

But, BD bowling attack is inconsistent. So, let's see how it goes.

BD should aim to give a target of 350-400.
 
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