New Zealand in Bangladesh | WTC Series 2023

[Kriterion_BD]

1st Test, Sylhet Nov 28-Dec 2
2nd Test, Dhaka Dec 6-10

Both teams kicking off the third WTC cycle. Bangladesh in woeful form across all 3 formats for many years now - so long you can't even call it "form" anymore. NZ will be licking their lips to pick up some much needed points after a disappointing finish in the last cycle.

Trent Boult and Matt Henry missing out for the Blackcaps, who otherwise have a very strong looking squad.
Shakib, Taskin, Ebadot out injured for BD. Tamim also unavailable despite presumably being fit.

NZ squad:

Tim Southee (captain)
Tom Blundell (WK)
Tom Latham
Kane Williamson
Daryl Mitchell
Rachin Ravindra
Henry Nichols
Will Young
Devon Conway
Glenn Philipps
Mitchell Santner
Kyle Jamieson
Neil Wagner
Ish Sodhi
Ajaz Patel

Bangladesh squad:

Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain)
Nurul Hasan Sohan (WK)
Shadman Islam
Zakir Hasan
Mahmudul Hasan Joy
Mominul Haque
Mushfiqur Rahim
Shahadat Hossain Dipu
Mehidy Hasan Miraz
Taijul Islam
Nayeem Hasan
Hasan Murad
Khaled Ahmed
Shoriful Islam
Hasan Mahmud

[eugene]

Easy win for NZ.

[pillowprocter]

I think so too

[Kriterion_BD]

Shanto sounding confident ahead of the series saying they feel they can beat this NZ side!

Hope he and the rest of his boys can back that confidence up over the next two weeks!

[Kriterion_BD]

BD batting first...just the 1 quick and 3 spinners with 8 batters...bit defensive unless its a turner.

Pitch has an even covering of grass. Kiwis have left out Ravindra!

Will be a tough game for BD...just need to get a decent first innings total first up.

[Kriterion_BD]

Little bit of turn from Ajaz Patel in just the 7th over!

[Kriterion_BD]

104-2 at lunch...even session...no real demons in the pitch although there is a bit of turn and variable bounce for the seamers.

Bangladesh will need to get about 400 here and should then be safe since NZ will be batting last.

[Kriterion_BD]

Ball isn't turning much anymore. Joy and Mominul need to score big.

[secretzimbo]

Almost zero prior interest in these two teams or this series but my 30 mins or so of viewing I caught earlier today was thoroughly enjoyable. Just goes to show the beauty and value of Test cricket.

First test cricket I've seen for what feels like bloody months.

[Kriterion_BD]

Williamson in to bat. Look at that average...54.97. What a player! Even half that average would be a guy who could hold a bat!