Test Series Preview: England in Bangladesh

England completed their exciting ODI series against Bangladesh with a 2-1 win, so attention now turns to the Test series that follows.

There was some great cricket from Bangladesh who are very much a rising force in the world game. They have qualified for next year's Champions Trophy ahead of the West Indies and will be taking on New Zealand at The SSE SWALEC next summer on 9 June 2017, and we saw that they are an exciting ODI team that should be great to watch.

Despite their recent successes in ODI cricket they are still not finding that level of consistent form in Tests, the fact that they play Tests so rarely doesn’t help, but in their own conditions they should provide England with a decent challenge.

Here are five players that you should be watching out during the Test series.

Shakib al Hasan

It has been 10 years since Shakib al Hasan made his international debut. It is strange to think that he is still only 29-years-old. He has been the mainstay of this Bangladesh side for so long. He is the leading wicket-taker for Bangladesh in Tests and the third highest run scorer in that format. There was a time when it was only Shakib that was capable of winning games of cricket for Bangladesh, but that is no longer the case. He has loads more support from the rest of his team, but he still remains a world-class all-rounder and his slow-left-arm bowling will be a real challenge in home conditions.

Mahmudullah

Another spin bowling all-rounder, Mahmadullah has been a real point of stability in the Bangladesh middle order. His Test numbers aren’t that impressive, he averages 31 with the bat and 45 with the ball, but he has been there when his team have needed him the most more than once. The last time he come up against England he scored a match winning hundred at the 2015 World Cup. He then followed that up with 128 not out a better than a run a ball in the next group game against New Zealand.

That was in ODIs and in Tests he will have to work hard against England to replicate that success, but he is capable of it.

Mushfiqur Rahim

A combative batsman and Test match captain, Mushfiqur Rahim has not been in the best form for Bangladesh over the last two years in Tests but he made an excellent 65 in his last Test innings just over a year ago against South Africa. Just as with Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur has been there for some of the more impressive rearguards in recent times and he is someone who can rescue his team if they find themselves in bother.

Tamim Iqbal

While other members of this Bangladesh batting line up look to work the ball around, that is not Tamim’s approach. He is the leading Test run scorer for Bangladesh and is also the leading century maker for his country with seven hundreds in Tests. The approach of Tamim is very much “see ball, hit ball” and while it can be exciting it does not always lead to consistent returns. Attacking batsmen attack and this can lead to them getting out in ways that can lead to shaking of heads from those watching. But in today’s harem-scarem international cricket it is the approach that will lead to success for his team.

Tamim has done well against England in the past, most notably his 103 in a Test match at Lord’s, and he will be looking forward to taking on the England bowlers in home conditions.

Taskin Ahmed

With Mustafizur Rahman injured and still a long way from fitness a lot will be expected of Taskin Ahmed who is returning to the team after having remedial work on his action after he was banned for throwing. Still only 21 he returned after over a year away from international cricket with 4 for 59 against Afghanistan in an ODI last month. A right arm bowler with an up right action he has the pace to give batsmen the hurry-up. It will be interesting to see if he can be as successful with his new action as he was with his old one.