The ODI series between Bangladesh and England was keenly fought which has set up the upcoming two match Test series quite nicely. The two nations are sure to play with plenty of passion ensuring a competitive series which begins in Chittagong on Thursday.
Schedule
1st Test: 20-24 Oct at Chittagong
2nd Test: 28 Oct – 1 Nov at Dhaka
Bangladesh
While Bangladesh are improving in the shortest formats of the game they haven’t made a lot of progress in the five day game and that is something they will be aiming to change in the weeks and months to come. Having the balance to their attack is something they have struggled with in the past but with some quality seamers coming through that should be about to change.
Bangladesh have only won one Test series against anyone other than Zimbabwe in their history so the task in front of them here is pretty sizeable. They are an improving nation though and conditions do suit them but they will need to play well for the full five days.
England
England should be full of confidence going into this series. Those who were here for the ODIs got the better of Bangladesh to end a significant run of form in that format from the home side. With the players who have come over just for the Test series you would expect England to be even stronger for these two matches.
You have to say this is merely a warm up for the series to come against India but England will be under pressure to get their winter of Test cricket off to a winning start and they will be expected to win 2-0 too. These aren’t conditions in which they are completely comfortable in but they can’t use that as an excuse.
Head to Head
These two sides have played four previous series, all of two matches just like this one, and England have won all four series. They have won both series in England and both in Bangladesh so a piece of history beckons for Bangladesh if they can avoid defeat in this series.
It isn’t just the series record that looks bad for Bangladesh. These two have played in eight matches in those four previous series and England have won all eight which suggests that their work is cut out here.
Odds
England are 8/15 to win the series and if you fancy their run of 2-0 wins to continue then you can get 17/10 on that. The series draw is 3/1 and a Bangladesh win is 10/1 although they would look unlikely if history is anything to go by.
Tamim Iqbal is a 7/2 favourite to be Bangladesh’s top series batsman with Imrul Kayes a 4/1 shot and Mahmudullah, Shakib al Hasan and Mominul Haque all 5/1. In the respective England market Joe Root is the 13/5 favourite with Alastair Cook slightly bigger at 14/5 and the potential debut pair of Ben Duckett and Haseeb Hameed both 5/1.
Taijul Islam leads the way in the Bangladesh bowler market at 5/2 with Shakib slightly bigger at 11/4. You can get 13/2 on Shafiul Islam although seamers aren’t likely to get much in this series. Adil Rashid is the 11/4 favourite in the England bowler market with Gareth Batty, Stuart Broad and Zafar Ansari all 4/1.
Betting
I’m not a fan of getting too involved in two match series because one big innings has too big an impact in them unlike the longer series where there is more potential for someone to play their way into things. With that in mind I’m just going to chance one bet for the series.
Ben Stokes has the potential to deliver a really big innings in these conditions. He plays spin well and with the field is up he has the power to go over the top. He has a good record in overseas Test matches with that century in his first Ashes series in Perth and then that marvellous 258 in Cape Town earlier in the year.
He has already scored a century on this tour in the opening ODI and having been fired up in that ODI series we know he would love to punish these bowlers in these two matches. At 7/1 he is a little overpriced in a batting line up which will be carrying a fair amount of inexperience.
Tips
WON – Back B.Stokes Top England Series Batsman for a 1/10 stake at 8.00 with Unibet
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