Fri, 11 Mar 2011 - Bangladesh vs England, World Cup 2011, 28th match Group B - Preview

For Bangladesh it is a case of lifting themselves from the ashes. They were handed over a humiliating defeat by West Indies that irked fans who booed the team. They were folded for meager 58 runs and game turned out to be no match in the end. The shock waves after this game have been felt with Bangladesh Cricket Board cracking whip on players asking them not write columns in the newspapers that demoralized players big time.

With a spot in quarter-final on line, it will be difficult for home team to perform and lift themselves for a crucial game against England. Team management need to deliver a pep-talk before this all important encounter.

After a shock defeat against Ireland, England were almost dead and out in their game against South Africa but inspired performances from their bowlers especially helped it to defend a small target successfully. They will go into this game with all the confidence in the world but would know that Bangladesh have players and ammunition to upset them.

Their preparations before the game were hit hard with their key members Stuart Broad and Kevin Pieterson ruled out of the tournament. Team management will have a job on hands to make their side to move on after loss of two important cogs in the squad.

The pitch at Chittagong, as most of the pitches in Bangladesh do, will offer assistance to spinners with low bounce and some turn.

Giving the recent form of two sides, it will be England who enter the game as a favourite team but Bangladesh will be keen to fight all the odds and upset England to give something for their angry fans to cheer about.

England

England have been hit hard by the ruling out of two of their key men but it has their best limited overs player-Eoin Morgan- to come back into the squad.

Bowling, however, will be dented hard in Broad’s absence that would mean lot will depend on Jimmy Anderson and Tim Bresnan to contain opposite batsmen.

Left arm spinner Michael Yardy has been short of his best form and would need to get some wickets in the middle overs. Off spinner Graeme Swann, as always, has been brilliant in the middle overs taking wickets and stemming the flow of runs.

Batting will be bolstered by the return of Eoin Morgan and England will need his finishing the game abilities to make a progress in the tournament.

Senior batsmen Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell have been in good form and low bounce wicket of Chittagong would mean the duo should try to bat for the maximum overs.

It would be interesting who would England team management sent to open the innings with Strauss and as of now, Johnathan Trott is most likely to take Peterson’s place at the top of the order.

Squad: Andrew Strauss (Capt), James Anderson, Ian Bell Tim Bresnan Chris Tremellet, Paul Collingwood, Ravi Bopara , Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior (wk), Ajmal Shahzad Graeme Swann, James Tredwell , Jonathan Trott, Luke Wright Michael Yardy.

Coach: Andy Flower

Bangladesh

Their batsmen provided no fight whatsoever against West Indies bowling line-up only to be folded out for 58 runs. It would be difficult for the batsmen to come out of that shock performance.

Some changes are likely to take place for the tomorrow’s match and there is a case for promotion for Mohammad Ashraful, who has been batting at number seven in this competition, in the batting order.

Team management would want top-order batsmen to convert starts in some substantial scores which they have failed to do so in the tournament so far.

Skipper Shaqibul Hassan needs to lead from the front and provide stability to the batting line up that has looked fragile and susceptible to collapses.

Tamim Iqbal needs to shun his attacking instincts and try to occupy the crease for the longer periods  and same applies for Junaid Siddique who, off late, has been making pretty 20’s and 30’s but not able to convert them into bog scores.

As has been the case with Bangladesh team composition, side will again rely on their army of spinners. Form of senior left arm spinner Abdur Razzaq is a worry though as he hasn’t been able to make the impact he is known for.

Fast bowlers need to strike early to bring their spinners into play so that they can strangle English batsmen in the middle overs.

Squad: Shakib-al-Hassan (c), Mohammad Ashraful, Tamim Iqbal, Shahriyar Nafees, Junaid Siddique, Imrul Kayes, Raqibul Hassan, Mushfiqur Rahim (wkt), Naeemul Islam, Shafi-ul-Islam, Mohammad Sohrawardi, Nazmul Hossian,  Rubel Hossian, Mahmudullah and Abdur Razzak.

Coach: Jamie Siddons