Who Will Win Zimbabwe vs Bangladesh 1st Test?
After sweeping the ODI series, Bangladesh will now look to continue their dominance over Zimbabwe in the longest format. The first test of the two-game series gets underway from November 3 at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. Live action is scheduled to begin at 9:30 AM local time each day of the match.
Ban vs Zim 1st Test: Where to Watch/Live Streaming
TV channels: Star Sports, Sky Sports Cricket, Fox Sports, SuperSport, OSN Sports Cricket HD
Live Streaming: Hotstar, Bet365, SuperSport Live, Now TV
Toss Prediction
Sylhet International Cricket Stadium is all set to host its first ever test match. Since the pitch at this ground is expected to offer more and more assistance to the spinners as the match progresses, neither side would want to bat fourth here. So the toss-winning captain is more likely to bat first.
Read on for team previews, betting odds, betting tips and match prediction for Ban vs Zim 1st Test...
Bangladesh Team News & Playing 11
BAN Team News
Pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman, who last played a test match at the start of this year against Sri Lanka, has returned to the Bangladesh Test squad. The 15-man squad also includes four uncapped players - Nazmul Islam, Mohammad Mithun, Khaled Ahmed and Ariful Haque. Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan have not been picked as they are still recovering from their respective injuries. Rubel Hossain, Kamrul Islam and Nurul Hasan who were all part of the squad for the test series against the West Indies are the others to have been sidelined.
BAN Key Players
Bangladesh will have their hopes pinned on Imrul Kayes and Mushfiqur Rahim when it comes to batting. Kayes topped the runs charts in the just concluded ODI series with 349 runs which included two centuries and a fifty and the hosts will want the opening batsman to replicate his ODI form in test cricket. Mushfiqur is the second-highest run-getter for Bangladesh in tests and he will be a key figure in their middle order. Apart from these two, the hosts will also expect sizeable contributions from Mominul Haque and Liton Das. With the ball, it will be up to Mustafizur Rahman to provide the early breakthroughs. The pacer is making a comeback in test cricket and will be raring to go. Spinners Mehidy Hasan and Mahmudullah will have a big role to play once the seamers are through. The former stood out as the best bowler for his side in ODIs and he is likely to trouble the Zimbabwean batsmen with the red ball as well.
BAN Recent Form
Bangladesh have lost six and drawn one out of their last seven test matches. Their last win in the longest format came last year in August against Australia at Dhaka. After drawing 1-1 with the Aussies, they traveled to South Africa where they faced a 0-2 defeat against the hosts and then lost 1-0 to Sri Lanka in a two-match series at home. Bangladesh played their most recent test series in the West Indies which they ended up losing 0-2.
Bangladesh Predicted Playing 11
Liton Das, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mohammad Mithun, Mahmudullah (c), Mehidy Hasan, Abu Jayed, Mustafizur Rahman, Taijul Islam, Shafiul Islam
Zimbabwe Team News & Playing 11
ZIM Team News
Left-arm seam bowler Richard Ngarava, who was expected to make his test debut, has been ruled out of the test series due to a groin injury he had picked up during the recently concluded ODI series. Zimbabwe have drafted medium pacer Christopher Mpofu into their 16-man squad as Ngarava's replacement. Hamilton Masakadza, who captained Zimbabwe in the ODIs, will be leading the team in the test series as well.
ZIM Key Players
Zimbabwe's batting will revolve mainly around the likes of Hamilton Masakadza, Brendan Taylor and Sean Williams. Masakadza is among the team's leading run-scorer in test cricket and the skipper will be expected to bring all of his experience to the fore. Williams finished as their best batsman in the recent ODI series with 226 runs at an outstanding average of 226 followed by Taylor who smashed a couple of half-centuries. Among the available bowling options, Kyle Jarvis seems to be the main threat for the Bangladeshi batsmen. The fast bowler was impressive in the ODIs where he topped the wickets charts with five wickets. Wellington Masakadza has done a decent job in his short international career and he along with Sikandar Raza will be the go-to men for Zimbabwe from the spin department.
ZIM Recent Form
Zimbabwe have lost their last seven test series in a row which is a clear indication of how much they have been struggling in this format of the game. They last won a test match in September 2013 at Harare against Pakistan. They played their last test in South Africa in December last year. It was a one-off test match in which the hosts emerged victorious by an innings and 120 runs.
Zimbabwe Predicted Playing 11
Hamilton Masakadza (c), Brian Chari, Brendan Taylor, Peter Moor, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Ryan Burl, Regis Chakabva (wk), Kyle Jarvis, Donald Tiripano, Wellington Masakadza
Nov 03 - Nov 06, 2018
09:30 IST / 4:00 GMT
Sylhet International Cricket Stadium - Sylhet, Bangladesh
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