After a disappointing One Day International (ODI) series, Bangladesh desperately are looking to fight back in the Test series when they will face hosts New Zealand in the first Test of the three-match series scheduled to begin at Hamilton tomorrow (Thursday), reports BSS.
The match kicks off at 4 am (BST).
But, the Tigers will have to face another tough task away from home in bouncing conditions where the batsmen will be tested again of their ability. Bangladesh lost all seven Test matches they played in New Zealand.
Ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who missed the entire ODI series against New Zealand, is still recovering from his finger injury. Mushfiqur Rahim will also be sidelined because of injuries to his ribcage and finger.
So far on this tour, Trent Boult and Tim Southee tormented the visitors.
Boult took six wickets in three consistently good performances in the ODIs, while Southee grabbed six-wicket haul in the third game, the only one he played.
A great example is Bangladesh's batting in the Wellington Test in 2017, when Tamim and Mominul Haque did much of the hard work on a blustery opening day. Shakib and Mushfiqur then built on the foundation, hitting 217 and 159 respectively.
Squads: Bangladesh: Mahmudullah, Tamim Iqbal, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mohammad Mithun, Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das, Mehidy Hasan, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Abu Jayed, Khaled Ahmed, Nayeem Hasan, Ebadat Hossain and Soumya Sarkar.
New Zealand: Kane Williamson (captain), Tom Latham, Jeet Raval, Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling, Colin de Grandhomme, Tim Southee, Todd Astle, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult, Matt Henry and Will Young.
