First Test Betting: Bangladesh v England

Test previews / Ed Hawkins / 10 March 2010 / Leave a Comment

"It goes without saying that the pitch will be slow and low which could make for rather tedious cricket, a shame given the IPL starts on the same day."

England should comfortably dispose of Bangladesh in Chittagong from Friday but there is a chance that they might wobble on their way to doing so. Ed Hawkins explains

Team news
Those that love a drama would have you believe that England are in some sort of crisis for the first Test in Chittagong, which starts on Friday. Absent captain, injured bowlers, star batsman forgotten how to hold the blade. That may be true but England will still field a more than capable XI.

Graham Onions and Ryan Sidebottom will not be part of it. They have spent their time on the treatment table with Stuart Broad, who is hopeful of recovering from a back injury. The loss of pacemen is not a concern because England are certain to play two spinners with James Tredwell making his debut.

Michael Carberry, the Hampshire opener, is expected to miss out with Johnathan Trott pairing Alastair Cook in the opening slot. Tim Bresnan should bat at No 8.

Bangladesh have once again left out Mohammad Ashraful although the greatest hole is left by Mashrafe Mortaza, their best fast bowler. Bangladesh will attack England with spin. They have named three left-arm twirlers in their 14-man squad.

Pitch conditions
That move from Bangladesh looks wise when you consider that in the last two Tests at the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, 42 of the 74 wickets to fall have gone to spinners. Shakib al Hasan, the fine Bangladesh captain, has taken 13 of them. Expect him to cause England the most problems.

It goes without saying that the pitch will be slow and low which could make for rather tedious cricket, a shame given the IPL starts on the same day. There has been only one draw in the seven Tests and there is an even toss split. No rain is forecast.

Match odds
England, at a surprisingly chunky [1.39], are a tempting mortgage job for, make no mistake, Bangladesh are a dreadful Test outfit. Their best hope of an upset was in the one-day series and although they got close once, over a potential five days the visitors' superiority should come through.

Bangladesh are probably a worse side than you recall. They have lost their last three Tests by 121 runs, 10 wickets and 113 runs and although they twice beat a reserve West Indies side, their four previous matches were defeats by 465 runs, 107 runs and two innings losses against South Africa.

The key to maintaining punting interest will be to work out when the hosts, who are [9.80], have a good couple of sessions, which is about par for them. Against India on this ground in January, they had their famous neighbours in the hole when they bundled them out for 243. And in 2008, New Zealand were knocked over for 171. Both big boys recovered to win, however.

Perhaps England might see their price drift if they have to bat first. With the first-innings average of 337, they will have to work hard for their runs. The ideal scenario for traders will be for England to get bowled out for about 280, drift close to [1.80] and then pile in.

Top batsman
Kevin Pietersen averages just 9.85 on tour and his double failure on this surface in a warm-up will make him a bad jolly if he holds out to his customary favourite position. With left-arm spinners getting him out almost at will and the surface not matching his strokeplay, there could be more misery.

Otherwise Alastair Cook or Paul Collingwood get our vote. They have looked most adept on tour so far on these tricky pitches and, in truth, they have little to beat. Jonathan Trott, despite a ton in the warm-up, is still haunted by a dreadful run in South Africa while Ian Bell is another who won't like the ball stopping.

For Bangladesh, Mushfiqur Rahim, the wicketkeeper, got a ton last time out at the venue. He averages 42 there. Shakib, unsurprisingly given he is the best player, also has runs under his belt.

Featured market
It is mighty short, but at [1.23] England will surely not concede a first-innings lead.