After winning a memorable ODI series, Bangladesh team is vying for a historic feat in the bilateral Test series against South Africa. Team Tigers have never won a Test match against the Proteas side and have lost six times on South African soil. However, the Tigers have a realistic chance to upset the Proteas Test team this time around because some of their regular players will miss the longer-version format series owing to their involvement in the IPL 2022. The first match preview of the SA vs BAN series 2022 is discussed in this article.
First Match Preview of the South Africa-Bangladesh Test Series 2022
All of Bangladesh's expected players are available for the SA vs BAN series 2022, with the exception of Shakib Al Hasan. Therefore, Captain Mominul Haque should have great faith in his squad going into the game. On the other hand, South African selectors chose some fresh faces for the Test team, as a handful of regular members are now busy playing in the Indian Premier League.
Proteas Captain Dean Elgar will have to rely on some of his young talent. The first match of the series will be played in Kingsmead in Durban, with a scheduled start time of 2 p.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time).
Bangladesh
Bangladesh's main challenge would be to post a large total in the first innings and then play with tenacity in the second. Two veterans, Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim will be crucial in this regard. While Tamim will be in charge of getting Bangladesh off to a good start, Mushfiqur will be in charge of getting the total to a respectable position. In addition, Najmul Hossain and Litton Das will have to exhibit their progress as Test batters.
Read ICC ODI Rankings 2022: Bangladesh Surpass Pakistan to Grab the Sixth Position
Taskin Ahmed will face high expectations in the bowling department after his performance in the ODI series. He, along with Shoriful Islam, can wreak havoc on the Proteas batting lineup. Off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz must step up in the absence of Shakib Al Hasan.
Probable playing XI
Top Order: Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Najmul Hossain Shanto;
Middle-Orders: Mominul Haque (Captain), Mushfiqur Rahim (Wicket-Keeper), Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz;
Lower-Order: Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Ebadot Hossain.
Read Top Performers of Bangladesh in the ICC Women's World Cup 2022
South Africa
The South African team will be without some key players during this Test series. Dupavillon, Duanne Olivier, and Lutho Sipamla will be in charge of the Proteas pace attack in the absence of Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, and Marco Jansen. They have a lot of first-class cricket experience, so it will be intriguing to see how these pacers do against Bangladesh's batting lineup.
However, experienced spinner Keshav Maharaj may be a game-changer for South Africa. Dean Elgar and Temba Bavuma will be vital in the batting order as the Proteas will need them to stand up for special innings.
Probable Playing XI
Top Order: Dean Elgar (Captain), Sarel Erwee, Keegan Petersen;
Middle Orders: Temba Bavuma, Kyle Verreynne (Wicket-Keeper), Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj;
Lower Order: Simon Harmer, Daryn Dupavillon, Duanne Olivier, Lutho Sipamla.
Read SA vs BAN Test Series 2022: Five Bangladeshi players with High Potency
Weather Forecast and Pitch Report
Rain is expected on days 2 through 4 of the match, according to the next seven days forecast for Durban. This might be a rain-affected match from this aspect. The opening match may finish in a draw if it rains heavily during the game. The Kingsmead track is known for its pace, but South Africa might prepare a spin-friendly wicket for the first match of the series.
Bottom Line
Since both sides are equally capable of winning the series, the SA vs BAN Series 2022 has no favourite. The main challenge for Bangladesh in the first match in Durban would be to adjust to the conditions and give it their best during the contest. If Bangladesh's game plan against the Proteas is properly executed, they will be able to take control of the match from the start, which will be vital in the match's final outcome.
Oppositely, the South African team will be hoping for some inspirational performances from its young players, but the veteran players will have to shoulder the most of the burden. Overall, this will be the first time that South Africa will begin a Test series against Bangladesh under pressure.