The BCB appointed veteran Shakib Al Hasan as the new Test captain in order to rejuvenate the Bangladesh squad. So, there was an expectation that the Shakib-led Bangladesh team would show a better performance in the BAN vs WI First Test 2022. However, the way the batters performed in the first innings was utterly disappointing. Bangladesh lost all of their wickets for 103, the second lowest total at this ground. Interestingly, they also hold the record for the lowest total at this venue. The Tigers were all-out for 43 in the first innings of the first Test of the 2018 bilateral series. Let’s take a look at the first Test match scenario.

Bangladesh vs West Indies First Test Match 2022: Match Scenario

Bangladesh have made 50/2 at the end of day-2 and they need 112 runs more to avoid an embarrassing innings defeat. Mahmudul Hasan Joy (18*) and Najmul Hossain Shanto (8*) are the two unbeaten batsmen. Prior to that, West Indies were all-out for 265 after taking a 162-run first innings lead. Captain Kraigg Brathwaite made the highest score of 94, while Jermaine Blackwood scored 63.

Bangladesh pacers bagged five wickets in West Indies' first innings and the spinners took the rest of the five wickets. However, in Mustafizur Rahman's bowling, the fielders dropped a number of catches. Mehidy Hasan Miraz was the most successful bowler for Bangladesh in the first innings. He picked up four wickets.

Read Antigua Test: WI take early control after Bangladesh’s poor batting

Earlier, West Indian captain Kraigg Brathwaite asked Bangladesh to bat first as the surface was suited for the fast bowlers to shine in the early morning of day 1. His decision and strategy panned out perfectly as the visitors were bowled out for 103 within the first hour of the second session. Only skipper Shakib Al Hasan showed some fighting spirit against the hosts. He went after the bowlers and made 51 off 67 deliveries. Tamim Iqbal (29) and Litton Das (12) were the other two batters to reach double digit numbers.

Six out of eleven batters for Bangladesh made ducks in the first innings. The batters who failed to score a run in the first innings are Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Mominul Haque, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mustafizur Rahman, and Kahled Ahmed.

Bangladesh batters' approach against Caribbean bowlers indicate that they are having some difficulties. Fear of getting out, lack of confidence in ability, lack of trust in the pitch, and inability to read the ball are the most notable. Bangladesh batters need to overcome these issues in order to show a potent display, particularly in unfamiliar overseas conditions. West Indian pacers took all of Bangladesh’s wickets as Jayden Seales and Alzarri Joseph bagged three wickets each.

Read Antigua Test: Bangladesh 103 all out in first-innings

Third innings Record at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium: What Do the Stats Say?

Bangladesh already lost one of their main batters, Tamim Iqbal, in the second innings. Shakib promoted Mehidy Hasan Miraz to bat at No. 3, but he too failed with the bat to shine. Two of the promising stars of Bangladesh, Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Najmul Hossain Shanto, have remained unbeaten and will resume the innings on day 3. It will be tough for them to negotiate the West Indian pace attack early in the morning, but it will also be a golden opportunity for them to showcase their true potential to the world.

Joy and Shanto should seize the opportunity by forming a big stand in the middle. Certainly, they have the ability to play long innings as both of them have big Test knocks under their belt. Mahmudul Hasan made a brilliant century against South Africa this year, while Najmul Hossain played a 163-run knock against Sri Lanka last year.

Will they be patient enough to perform to their full potential? And will the pitch be good enough to survive and score runs? As per stats, the lowest third innings total at this ground is 132 by England in 2019. Bangladesh’s 144 runs in 2018 is the second lowest at this venue.

Read Tamim becomes fastest Bangladeshi to score 5000 runs in Test

So far, only two times has this venue seen less than 200 runs in the third innings. In the third innings, Four times I scored 200 or higher, and three times I scored 300 or higher. Sri Lanka’s 476 runs in the last year is the highest third innings total at this venue. More importantly, all of the 300+ scores have come from the visiting teams.

Top five Third innings Total at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua

   Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/

Read WI vs BAN Series 2022: Where to Watch Live Streaming

Considering this stat, there is no reason Bangladesh can’t score 200 runs at this venue in the second innings of the BAN vs WI 1st Test 2022. Besides, scoring a century isn’t impossible either. All of the centuries in the third innings have come from the visiting teams, and three of them have scored in the last 15 months.

List of centuries in the third innings at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua

    Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/

Bottom Line

Bangladesh batters' approach in the first innings of the BAN vs WI First Test 2022 was uninspiring. They were not brave enough to deal with the Caribbean bowlers. The players need to be courageous enough and trust the pitch to play to their full potential. The main expectation from Bangladesh's batting line-up would be to bat as long as possible. If the players play sensibly, then there is no reason to form fruitful partnerships in the middle in order to avoid an innings defeat.

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