Andrew Miller previews Bangladesh’s match against New Zealand in Antigua

Andrew Miller in Antigua01-Apr-2007

Mushfiqur Rahim gets ready for a net as Bangladesh prepare to face New Zealand © Getty Images
Forewarned is forearmed for Stephen Fleming’s New Zealand team. Thoughthey are currently high-flying in the Super Eights section of theWorld Cup – undefeated with two crucial victories over England andWest Indies – they’ll know full well that Monday’s next encounter inAntigua has the potential to be a little uncomfortable.Bangladesh may be coming off the back of a thumping defeat against theAussies, but in the pre-tournament warm-ups in Barbados they heldtheir nerve against the Kiwis to complete a surprise two-wicket win -a result that was the first indication they there would be furthershocks in store in this competition.Admittedly the match had been a 13-a-side affair that perhaps carriedmore significance for the victors than the defeated, but neither JohnBracewell, New Zealand’s coach, nor their wicketkeeper, BrendonMcCullum, could entirely forget about the implications of thatset-back.”We have to keep our feet on the ground when it comes to Bangladesh,”said McCullum. “After losing to them in the warm-up they will have apretty strong belief they can knock us over again so we have to on thetop of our game. They pose a threat with their seamers up front, andif they get helpful conditions they can be a handful.”Bangladesh’s initial foray in the Super Eights was not all that itmight have been. A farcical drainage problem at the Sir VivianRichards Stadium reduced the match to a 22-overs affair, and by thetime Bangladesh had thrown four key wickets away inside the firsteight overs, there was further bad news in their brief bowling stintwhen the energetic seamer, Tapash Baisya, limped out of the attackwith a damaged foot. His place seems likely to be taken by Syed Rasel,who played in the pool matches.But for all the talk of their seam attack, it is the constrictinginfluence of their trio of spinners that is arguably Bangladesh’s morepotent weapon. With Mohammad Rafique and Abdul Razzak backed up bySaqibul Hasan’s darting left-armers, they have the ability over 50overs to exercise sufficient control to ensure a reasonable run-chase. To aid Bangladesh’s prospects of a measured approach to their innings, the experienced opener, Javed Omar, is expected to return in place of the struggling Shahriar Nafees.It is for such reasons as these that Bracewell maintains that NewZealand’s defeat in the warm-up was a timely wake-up call, after theeuphoria of their 3-0 thrashing of Australia in the Chappell-HadleeSeries. All it takes is a loss of concentration at a crucial junctureof the tournament, and all promise of the past few months will countfor nothing.”Someone sent us a nice picture of Everest the other day and you don’tclimb that by looking at the top,” said Bracewell. “It is a big climbso we’ve decided to go one step at a time.”All the same, Dav Whatmore, Bangladesh’s coach, was more than happy totalk up New Zealand’s prospects. “They are another good side andthey’ll consider themselves one of the favourites,” he said. “They area good solid team in any conditions – they’re a very good fieldingteam and it’s very difficult to bowl them out because their allrounders give them so much depth and flexibility.”Those allrounders, Jacob Oram and Scott Styris in particular, havebeen in sparkling form in the tournament to date, while the enduringfitness of key players such as Daniel Vettori and Shane Bond hasfurther enhanced their prospects of progress. Though the hard-hittingbatsman, Ross Taylor, remains sidelined with a hamstring strain, MarkGillespie has returned to full fitness after a shoulder infection, andis expected to compete with Michael Mason, Chris Martin and JamesFranklin for one of the remaining seamer’s slots.”Having lots of guys to select from is not a headache for me. It is aheadache when we don’t have players to select from,” said Bracewell.”That is the beauty of this team. We can bounce out of thosesituations, shift to a B plan quite seamlessly and adapt to thewicket.”Adaptability is the mark of a very good side. Barring an upset thatnot even the Bangladeshis fully envisage, New Zealand should be wellon their way to the semi-finals come Monday evening.New Zealand (probable) 1 Peter Fulton, 2 Stephen Fleming(capt), 3 Hamish Marshall, 4 Scott Styris, 5 Craig McMillan, 6 JacobOram, 7 Brendon McCullum (wk), 8 Daniel Vettori, 9 James Franklin, 10Michael Mason, 11 Shane Bond.Bangladesh (probable) 1 Javed Omar, 2 Tamim Iqbal, 3Saqibul Hasan, 4 Aftab Ahmed, 5 Habibul Bashar (capt), 6 MohammadAshraful, 7 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 8 Mohammad Rafique, 9 MashrafeMortaza, 10 Abdul Razzak, 11 Syed Rasel.