The South African international summer gets underway later this week when they take on Bangladesh in a two match Test series to get things going. There are bigger and better things to come for the Proteas this winter but this will be a good early test to see where they are at.
Bangladesh have the chance over the next two weeks to silence a few doubters and show that they continue to improve in this format of the game albeit in what has to be described as a low key series.
Schedule
1st Test: Sept 28 – Oct 2 at Potchefstroom
2nd Test: Oct 6-10 at Bloemfontein
South Africa
This will be the first series for South Africa since they were beaten in England earlier in the year. They looked like a side about to undergo a transition period towards the end of that series and with some injuries that they have that remains the case you would think. They are also under a new coach for this series too.
Ottis Gibson has taken over the job of leading South Africa back to the top of the rankings in each of the formats. Faf du Plessis is now captaining in all three formats so there will be a bit of continuity there. Sri Lanka, India and Australia are due in South Africa this winter so this is a chance to build some confidence.
Bangladesh
In terms of recent action it is Bangladesh who are in the better position. They have recently finished a two match series with Australia which they shared and that represented their improvement. This will be a different test for them being in conditions which are still perceived to be alien to them but they have the chance to end that notion.
If they are going to do that then clearly their bowling attack is going to have to perform to levels we have not previously seen them do in red cricket in seaming conditions. They will also need to show a steel and a nerve with the bat but the time will come when they work out how to play overseas so if it is here they will be in position to cause a shock.
Head to Head
This will be the sixth time that these two nations will have played out a Test series. South Africa have won four of the previous five with the other one being a draw. The Proteas have been so dominant against the minnows that Bangladesh are still looking for their first Test win over them let alone a series success. That highlights the size of the task awaiting the tourists here.
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Betting
I don’t like getting too involved in these two match series and I’m not going to get deeply into this one either but there is one bet that I think is overpriced which I will have a nibble on to keep me interested.
That comes in the top Bangladesh series batsman market where the absence of Shakib-al-Hasan leaves a big hole. That would make Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim the favourites but Tamim retired hurt in the warm up match and Rahim might have a little too much on his plate.
Sabbir Rahman looks overpriced. We can’t read too much into warm up matches but it can certainly be no bad thing that he banged in 50s in both innings of the one Bangladesh played. He will be taking on South Africa for the first time in Tests but he made 60 odd in the second Test against Australia recently. We’ve seen how cleanly he hits the ball in T20s and the like and with a bit of discipline he can top score for the tourists in this series.
Tips
Back S.Rahman Top Bangladesh Series Batsman for a 2/10 stake at 6.50 with William Hill
Back him here:
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