Last Updated on 4 years by Charbel Coorey

BAN vs WI 1st Test Preview Dream11 Possible 11 Pitch Report | BAN vs WI 1st Test Dream11 Prediction Today | Bangladesh vs West Indies 1st Test Key Players | Chattogram Pitch Report

After nearly 12 months, Test cricket returns to Bangladesh. Like the recent ODIs, however, the atmosphere will be subdued compared to the usual craze in cricket-crazy Bangladesh, due to the empty stadiums as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The team, though, has a job to do, as they look to make strides in the game’s longest format. The Tigers, now entering their 21st year of Test cricket, have still shown the weaknesses in the last couple of years that haunted them in the 18-19 years previous, despite some great moments over the past decade. Most great moments have centred around Shakib Al Hasan, who is fit and available after serving his one-year ban and suffering a groin injury in the third ODI.

So, in a series where the home side start as such heavy favourites, which is a rarity against any side other than Zimbabwe, can they perform as their fans will hope? West Indies, who were so poor in the ODIs and without key personnel, will be looking for a fighting display from their batsmen in particular. The wily Rakheem Cornwall can cause problems with the ball (as the tour game showed), so how well their batsmen, led by skipper Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell and Jermaine Blackwood, can perform, will be key.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Bangladesh:

• Tigers’ skipper Mominul Haque simply loves batting at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. The left-hander has scored 1,056 runs in nine Tests at this venue, at an average of 75.42, with six hundreds.
• Tamim Iqbal has the most runs for any Bangladeshi player against West Indies (750, avg. 37.50). Tamim will be looking to improve on his average of 33.18 in 14 Tests on this ground.
• Shakib Al Hasan is close behind Tamim, with 745 runs vs West Indies at a fine average of 43.82. He also has the most wickets in Bangladesh-West Indies Tests, with 46 in 10 matches at an average of 24.19.
• Mushfiqur Rahim will also be key for the Tigers. He has the most runs on this ground (1,138, avg. 40.64), and will be looking to improve on an average of 31.33 in 12 Tests vs Windies (658 runs).
• Mehidy Hasan Miraz was excellent in the ODIs. And, he loves bowling in Tests at home. In 11 Tests in Bangladesh, Mehidy has taken 61 wickets at an average of 21.44.
• Taijul Islam and Nayeem Hasan both took five-wicket hauls when West Indies last played on this ground, back in 2018.
• Mustafizur Rahman got the ball swinging back into the right-handers in the ODIs. So, can he make an impact here? He has 10 wickets on this ground at an average of 28.60.

West Indies:

• Kragg Brathwaite averages 47.70 against Bangladesh. However, he averages just 13.12 in four Tests in Bangladesh, so a significant improvement is needed here. He is coming off 85 in the tour match.
• John Campbell scored 68 in his last Test vs New Zealand, and scored 44 and 68 in the recent tour match. Can he handle Bangladesh’s off-spinners effectively?
• Jermaine Blackwood has scored 427 runs in his last five Tests at an average of 42.70. His counter-attacking style could work a treat against Bangladesh’s battery of spinners.
• Arguably West Indies’ most important player is Rakheem Cornwall. He took a five-for in the tour match, and took 10 wickets in his only Test in Asia to date (vs Afghanistan in Lucknow).
• Jomel Worrican took six wickets (4/69 and 2/43) and scored 41 on this ground in 2018.
• Can Kemar Roach and Shannon Gabriel influence this match? Gabriel took five wickets on this ground in 2018 (4/70 and 1/24). Roach, however, has struggled in Bangladesh, with just four scalps in three Tests at an average of 59.00.

Stats and Facts

• Bangladesh beat West Indies 2-0 back in 2018. This included a 64-run win at Chattogram, where Mominul Haque was player of the match for his first innings hundred.
• West Indies lost both Tests in New Zealand by innings. The last time they lost three Tests in a row by an innings was way back in 1931.
• Kraigg Brathwaite has played 15 Tests in Asia, the most of any current Windies player in the squad.
• Interestingly, Shakib averages just 29.71 with the bat in 16 Tests on this ground. He does, however, have the most wickets, with 60 at an average of 32.03.

Possible Playing 11

Bangladesh is expected to play a spin-heavy bowling attack.

Bangladesh: 1. Tamim Iqbal, 2. Saif Hassan, 3. Najmul Hossain Shanto, 4. Mominul Haque (c), 5. Mushfiqur Rahim, 6. Shakib Al Hasan, 7. Liton Das (wk), 8. Mehidy Hasan, 9. Nayeem Hasan, 10. Taijul Islam, 11. Mustafizur Rahman

Nkrumah Bonner and Kyle Bonner are reportedly set to make their Test debuts for West Indies.

West Indies: 1. Kraigg Brathwaite (c), 2. John Campbell, 3. Nkrumah Bonner, 4. Jermaine Blackwood 5. Joshua Da Silva (wk), 6. Kyle Mayers, 7. Rahkeem Cornwall, 8. Raymon Reifer/Alzarri Joseph, 9. Jomel Warrican, 10. Kemar Roach, 11. Shannon Gabriel

Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium Chattogram Pitch Report and Weather

The average first innings score on this ground is 370. However, the pitch has taken more turn in the past five years, as it used to be a more flatter pitch at the turn of 2010s decade. The spinners are expected to have a say after the first day or two, where the track will likely suit the batters early on. So, the toss is important.

The weather conditions look perfect for the five days, with sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-20s forecast.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

Also read: India vs England Test Series Preview: Too hard for England?

Match Prediction

Bangladesh, especially if they win the toss, should go on to win this Test. West Indies will need to stay patient to stand a chance, as Bangladesh have a tendency to beat themselves.

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