Tigers out to change dismal Test record in South Africa

Dhaka, 30 March -Emboldened by their first ever series victory in ODI format, Bangladesh are oozing with confidence to change their abysmal longer version format record in South Africa when they take on the hosts for the opening match of the two-match Test series at Kingsmead in Durban Thursday.

 The match starts at 2 PM (Bangladesh Time). This will be the first Test between the two sides after 2017.
 
The two teams so far played 12 matches with South Africa winning 10. The two-match Test series in Bangladesh in 2015 ended in a draw after rain washed out both of the matches. But of the 10 defeats, Bangladesh's eight defeats came by an innings margin.
 

Out of the 12 matches, Bangladesh played six Test matches in South Africa and lost all of them. The five defeats came by innings margin and in the only game, in which they avoided the innings defeat, they lost by 333 runs margin. 

The state itself proved how vulnerable they are on South African soil.
 For overall stat: The Tigers so far played 128 Test matches, won just 16 and lost 95, of which 45 defeats came by an innings margin. The rest of the 17 Tests were drawn.
 
Bangladesh's record on South African soil in fact is worse than in New Zealand, where they had recently ended the Test win drought. So that was another source of confidence that when they could breach the New Zealand fortress, they will be able to change their record in South Africa also.
 
In fact, buoyed by the Test victory against New Zealand, Bangladesh played the ODI series in South African and won it by 2-1.
 
It was also the best chance for Bangladesh to snap winless streak in Test format. The hosts will be without their entire first-choice pace attack - comprising Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen - as well as batters Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen as they chose the IPL over the Test series. Fast bowler Anrich Nortje once again missed out on selection with a longstanding back and hip issue.
 
But no matter what the team South Africa is fielding, Bangladesh's
confidence stemmed from their victory on New Zealand soil, where they beat a full strength side. Even in the ODI series, Bangladesh crushed a full strength South African side to make a huge statement.
 
Bangladesh will miss the service of Shakib Al Hasan at least in the first Test as he returned to the country to be with his ailing family. But it should be a little matter for the Tigers who won the Test in New Zealand even without the service of Shakib and Tamim Iqbal.
 
However, ODI captain Tamim Iqbal is back in Test format after recovering from his injury and will play his first Test for the country since May 2021.
 
"I think the Test series will be more challenging," Shakib said. "For five
to seven years, we have been a good ODI unit, and we all know that in ODIs we play cricket on true wickets and whoever does well will win the game. In Test teams take advantage of their condition but as some of their main players are missing we can be hopeful."
 
South Africa could field as many as four debutantes - Ryan Rickleton,
Khaya Zondo, Lizaad Williams and Daryn Dupavillon - and a severely
inexperienced pace attack. But their captain Dean Elgar believes some of them will take the opportunity to make a big statement.
 
Bangladesh looked a settled unit in Test for the first time in their
history. But they have to make one change to accommodate Tamim Iqbal from the squad that won a Test in New Zealand and eventually drew the two-match series.
 
Squad
 Bangladesh: Mominul Haque (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Liton Das (wk), Yasir Ali, Taijul Islam, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Abu Jayed, Ebadot Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Shohidul Islam, Khaled Ahmed, Shadman Islam, Nurul Hasan
 
South Africa: Dean Elgar (captain), Temba Bavuma (vice-captain), Daryn Dupavillon, Sarel Erwee, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj, Wiaan Mulder, Duanne Olivier, Keegan Petersen, Ryan Rickelton, Lutho Sipamla, Glenton Stuurman, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Lizaad Williams, Khaya Zondo