For the Test series against India starting on September 19 in Chennai, Bangladesh enter this contest with high spirits especially after an astonishing 2-0 victory over Pakistan.
But former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel feels that in order to beat India in their home conditions, the Bangladeshi batsmen will have to make significant alterations while facing SG ball especially when it is old.
At home, they play with Kookaburra balls and recently played with them during their Tests against Pakistan at Rawalpindi. However, in India they should get used to using SG balls which take a long time before becoming soft.
“I am coming from the fact that there is a significant discrepancy between behaviours of an SG ball and those of Kookaburra ball. Generally speaking, Kookaburra balls tend to swing in the early stages before acquiring stiff seam and becoming soft. In contrast, once an SG ball matures, it becomes very difficult to bat on. We have all witnessed Indian bowlers perform beautifully when it comes to doing reverse swing.
“According to me, it is necessary for the Bangladeshi batsmen to face major adjustments while facing that old ball because reverse swing will be seen on pitches such as Chennai where you have red soils or Kanpur where it might be dry.”
Indians have bowled well exploiting these conditions against England,” said Parthiv, JioCinema & Sports18 expert, to lANS in an exclusive virtual interaction. “In their case, how they will play reverse swing in the middle order will be a crucial hurdle for them, because 26/6 was not something that England’s batting could survive. In such a situation it won’t be easy for them to come back again.”
He further noted that the team under Najmul Hossain Shanto’s captaincy would provide stiff resistance when they meet India during Tests. “Look, regardless of what happens with Pakistani cricketers in years ahead or their performance over their long history as far as our neighboring crack has been concerned, if you have won two test matches in an away series you are very likely going out with confidence.” According to this prediction made by Parthiv, he stated this after alluding dullness associated with such victories because there is no denying evidence backing it up: ‘Bangladesh would perform at its best anytime soon.’
Parthiv went on to discuss his expectations ahead of the contest between Bangladesh and India: “I do think Bangladesh will come out fighting. Regardless of how cricket is in Pakistan, if you have won two Test matches on an away tour then you will have all that much more confidence.” This was reflected when he ended by saying they were going through a phase where they were losing by hundreds only to win some tests.
“They were far behind in many instances against Pakistan but eventually ended up winning Test matches. In terms of playing at home against India today, however, I believe it would be quite difficult for anyone to defeat them.” It is worth mentioning that indeed; Bangladesh should remain optimistic about the forthcoming game.
“Examining the types of pitches that India used during their matches against England, they were all really good ones. Therefore, I do not anticipate any pitches that will turn dramatically although I expect decent Test cricket surfaces. Normally when playing in Chennai there is always some amount of bounce and so it is expected to see good bounce coming off the red soil here.”
“Nonetheless, like I said previously, none even resemble a rank turner wicket at Kanpur. Whenever we play on good Test pitches then Indian team beats everyone as seen previously against England. So here’s my analysis – India ought to stick playing on fairer surfaces.”
