The first of two Test matches starts between Bangladesh and New Zealand in Chittagong on Wednesday, and although it isn’t the most enthralling sounding series, it is a fairly important series for the two teams involved.
A quick look at the ICC Test match rankings shows Bangladesh down at number 10, and New Zealand not far ahead of their hosts, in eighth place.
Bangladesh dropped down to the bottom of the rankings following Zimbabwe’s recent drawn series with Pakistan. Bangladesh have failed to kick on in the Test arena over the past couple of years, and they will surely have earmarked this Test series as a potentially winnable one.
New Zealand have shown some good signs of improvement in the Test arena lately. They had the better of a hard earned drawn series at home to England earlier in the year, although they comfortably lost the return away series.
In the home draw against England, New Zealand played the better cricket (in my opinion) over the three Test matches. Okay, so they struggled a few weeks later in England, but conditions were perfect for the England attack.
If the Kiwi’s want to build on the impressive home performance against England, they have to be looking to win this series.
Although it was in a different format, Bangladesh doesn’t hold fond memories for New Zealand. The last time they were here (2010), the Kiwis were handed a 4-0 thrashing in the 50 Over format.
Of the nine previous Tests played between these teams, New Zealand have won eight, with one draw. Given the history between these two sides it is no wonder the Kiwis start this series as 1/2 favourites, a Drawn series is 5/2, and Bangladesh are 6/1 to complete a shock series win.
Full Fixtures
9th – 13th Oct – Bangladesh V New Zealand – 1st Test – Chittagong
21st – 25th Oct – Bangladesh V New Zealand – 2nd Test Dhaka