Proteas eye toilsome win against Tigers
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
BLOEMFONTEIN, Nov 17 (AFP): South Africa will be seeking convincing wins in their two-Test series against Bangladesh starting at Springbok Park Wednesday - but they don't want them to be too easy.
While coach Mickey Arthur is at pains to stress that he doesn't mean any disrespect to Bangladesh, who he says are "a decent side", he wants his players to be made to work reasonably hard against the side ranked last among the Test nations.
Arthur makes no secret of the fact that the major objective for South Africa is to end a long losing streak against Australia, who the Proteas will meet in Australia and at home later in the season.
South Africa have won all six of their previous Test matches against Bangladesh, five of them by an innings.
When Bangladesh last toured South Africa in 2002/03 one Test was won inside three days and the other before lunch on the fourth day. On the current tour, South Africa gained big wins in two one-day internationals, with rain preventing play in a third.
South Africa, with a potent pace attack led by the International Cricket Council Test cricketer of the year Dale Steyn, will start hot favourites.
Teams:
South Africa (likely): Graeme Smith (captain), Neil McKenzie, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, Ashwell Prince, AB de Villiers, Mark Boucher, Paul Harris, Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini.
Bangladesh (from): Mohammad Ashraful (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Junaid Siddique, Shakib Al Hasan, Mehrab Hossain jnr, Naeem Islam, Mushfiqur Rahim, Raqibul Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza, Abdur Razzak, Shahadat Hossain, Sajedul Islam, Nazmul Hossain, Mahbubul Alam.
Umpires: Steve Davis (Aus), Ian Gould (Eng).
TV umpire:Marais Erasmus (Rsa).
Match referee: Alan Hurst (Aus).
While coach Mickey Arthur is at pains to stress that he doesn't mean any disrespect to Bangladesh, who he says are "a decent side", he wants his players to be made to work reasonably hard against the side ranked last among the Test nations.
Arthur makes no secret of the fact that the major objective for South Africa is to end a long losing streak against Australia, who the Proteas will meet in Australia and at home later in the season.
South Africa have won all six of their previous Test matches against Bangladesh, five of them by an innings.
When Bangladesh last toured South Africa in 2002/03 one Test was won inside three days and the other before lunch on the fourth day. On the current tour, South Africa gained big wins in two one-day internationals, with rain preventing play in a third.
South Africa, with a potent pace attack led by the International Cricket Council Test cricketer of the year Dale Steyn, will start hot favourites.
Teams:
South Africa (likely): Graeme Smith (captain), Neil McKenzie, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, Ashwell Prince, AB de Villiers, Mark Boucher, Paul Harris, Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini.
Bangladesh (from): Mohammad Ashraful (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Junaid Siddique, Shakib Al Hasan, Mehrab Hossain jnr, Naeem Islam, Mushfiqur Rahim, Raqibul Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza, Abdur Razzak, Shahadat Hossain, Sajedul Islam, Nazmul Hossain, Mahbubul Alam.
Umpires: Steve Davis (Aus), Ian Gould (Eng).
TV umpire:Marais Erasmus (Rsa).
Match referee: Alan Hurst (Aus).