Vijay New Zealand have almost everything in place in Wellington to wrap up the Test series against Bangladesh. They have the pace attack, which has already sent a stern message across to the visiting batsmen. They also have the firepower in batting, the record-setting 715 for 6 in the Hamilton Test proving to be the difference between the two sides. They will, however, be wary of rain in the forecast, and the possibility of a Bangladesh fightback.
Bangladesh took three positives from the Hamilton Test.
Tamim Iqbal scored 200 runs in the game, which included his first century in
New Zealand. It was an instructive effort from the senior batsman who decided
to duck under Neil Wagner's short-ball bombardment in both innings.
Mahmudullah and Soumya Sarkar also batted admirably in the
second innings, which was a corrective measure after their soft dismissals in
the first. Mahmudullah was more of a support act during the 235-run
fifth-wicket stand with Soumya, who attacked as soon as he figured out how to
avoid getting hit on the body.
Otherwise, Bangladesh didn't have much to cheer for. Their
rookie three-man pace attack conceded 369 runs in 87 overs, taking just one
wicket. Mehidy Hasan had a particularly poor outing, his 2 for 246 the worst
figures by a Bangladeshi bowler in a Test innings. There will be a lot of
improvement needed from the bowling attack if they are to at least challenge
the New Zealand batsmen.
At the same time, the batsmen - particularly Shadman Islam,
Mominul Haque, Mohammad Mithun and Liton Das - will have to withstand Trent
Boult, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner.
The New Zealand trio took 19 out of the 20 wickets that fell
in Hamilton, mostly with short-pitched deliveries that rattled the Bangladesh
batsmen. Whether Wagner, especially, us able to do it again in Wellington is
something everyone will have an eye on.
Form guide
New Zealand: WWDWL (Last five completed matches, most recent
first)
Bangladesh: LWWWL
In the spotlight
Given the nature of the Wellington pitch, the Bangladesh
batsmen will be wary of Neil Wagner's bouncer barrage, especially after he
picked up a five-wicket haul in Hamilton. Wagner's energy levels are unusually
high, which is bad news for the visitors.
Soumya Sarkar's maiden Test century came nearly four years
into his Test career, and it was almost as promised: filled with attractive
shots. The spotlight will be on Soumya to see how he follows up the 149 in
Wellington.
Team news
If New Zealand go for an all-pace attack, legspinner Todd
Astle may have to make way for Matt Henry, although Kane Williamson may opt for
a bit of variety.
New Zealand (probable): 1 Jeet Raval, 2 Tom Latham, 3 Kane
Williamson (capt), 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Henry Nicholls, 6 BJ Watling (wk), 7 Colin
de Grandhomme, 8 Todd Astle, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Neil Wagner, 11 Trent Boult
Tamim is currently nursing a groin niggle, but Bangladesh
are unlikely to tinker with their batting line-up, mainly because they don't
have a spare batsman. Mustafizur Rahman will be coming in, possibly in place of
Mehidy Hasan.
Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Shadman Islam, 3
Mominul Haque, 4 Mohammad Mithun, 5 Mahmudullah, 6 Liton Das (wk), 7 Soumya
Sarkar, 8 Khaled Ahmed, 9 Abu Jayed, 10 Ebadat Hossain, 11 Mustafizur Rahman
Pitch and conditions
Basin Reserve is - quite literally - a green strip in
between three brown pitches, which is likely to help the fast bowlers. Rain has
also been forecasted for four of the five days.
Stats and trivia
With his 146 in Hamilton, Mahmudullah now has three
centuries in Bangladesh's last three Tests.
Boult's 5 for 123 was the most expensive among his eight
five-wicket hauls.
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