Hathurusinghe: Forget WTC, winning Tests for your country is motivation enough

Even if the one-off Test is not part of the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle and even if Bangladesh and Afghanistan haven't played Test cricket in a long time, representing your country and winning Tests remains the primary "motivation" and "ambition," according to the head coaches of the two teams, Chandika Hathurusinghe and Jonathan Trott. The two sides square off in a one-off Test starting Wednesday in Dhaka with questions around the match's importance given it is being held during Bangladesh's monsoon season.

However, Hathurusinghe and Trott believe players across the two sides are looking forward to some red-ball cricket.

"You are playing for your country, aren't you?" Hathurusinghe said ahead of the Test. "Forget about the Test Championship; that came four years ago. Before that, playing Tests for your country was the dream, when you are nine or 11 years old.

"If there's a problem [playing a Test for your country], then he is in the wrong place. Winning for your country is enough for myself and the players. It is the motivational factor."

Trott was of a similar opinion. "I think there's an ambition to play Test matches, being a Test nation. But I think it is also important that every Test match we go into, we try to win as well," he said.

The lack of Test matches has been an issue for both teams. Bangladesh have played only one Test this year, while Afghanistan's last was more than two years ago. The monsoon, the school exams in Bangladesh, and the lack of context because it's a one-off series, could all affect the viewership of this Test.

Both sides are also missing key personnel in their line-up. While Afghanistan have rested Rashid Khan, their best bowler, to prioritise his "long-term fitness", Bangladesh are without Shakib Al Hasan whose finger injury put him out of action last month. Tamim Iqbal was also ruled out of the game on the eve of the match with lower back pain.

For Hathurusinghe, though, just representing the country in a Test match should be motivation enough for the players.

"Playing for the Tigers is an honour. I think we don't look beyond that," he remarked. "Overall, if you ask my opinion, Test cricket is the pinnacle of the game no matter how the other formats are going to be in the future. Your skills as a cricketer are tested in Test cricket, as a bowler, batter and fielder. Your mental skills and resilience is tested. There's no better format for any cricketer if you really want to be proud of representing your country."

Trott, who took over as Afghanistan's head coach last year, will oversee his first Test with them. He said his players, who become more famous playing T20s around the world, have ambitions to play Tests too.

"We haven't played for a while, Bangladesh have played quite a lot of Tests recently," Trott said. "I think it is always good to develop the players' mindset of being ambitious and playing Tests, along with all the other formats. Being competitive in red-ball cricket just as much in white-ball cricket."

"I think [Afghanistan players are] just as ambitious as Bangladesh were when they started playing Tests. You see Bangladesh now going on to beat other teams at home. I think it's important to have that ambition. I think it is what drives the game. All Test cricketers will tell you they like playing Test cricket. They will say it is their favourite format, because of the challenge and test it creates between the two sides. Also individual as well. It is something that I am looking forward to seeing tomorrow."

A bigger concern for the Afghanistan coach will be to replace Rashid. Trott kept his cards close to his chest, but the make-up of the side suggests that a few newcomers are likely to make their debuts, including 19-year-old legspinner Izharulhaq Naveed who impressed in last season's Big Bash League.

"It is very difficult to replace a guy like Rashid," Trott said. "He has vast experience in playing all around the world in different competitions and different variations of the game. He has played Test cricket. So yes, that's obviously missed.

"But I think him having time off, obviously there's a lot of cricket coming up. Asia Cup and World Cup is coming up. I certainly see this time off for him now to get his back sorted out, with a view to the future, in the competitions in a few months' time."

He underlined that Afghanistan have a confident unit that could give Bangladesh a run for their money. "I think any team playing at home will have a bit of an advantage. I think certainly a team that has played more Tests by a long stretch will also have a bit of advantage. It doesn't mean tomorrow they will play better than us. We prepared really well. I feel the players have trained exceptionally well. They are excited to play a Test in Bangladesh," he said.

"Whatever has happened in the past, whoever is favourite or the conditions, it is all about what happens tomorrow and who does it the best. It is my job to make sure everyone is ready for the Test starting tomorrow".

Meanwhile, the hosts are keen to develop a playing style rather than just focusing on the result of this game. "We discussed before the Ireland series that we want to play a certain brand of cricket regardless of the result," Hathurusinghe said. "Our aim is to get the result but we want to understand how our skillset lasts five days in different conditions, challenging ourselves in certain ways.

"We might do different things tactically if we have to earn points in the WTC. This game is giving us the opportunity to play on a sporting wicket. Regardless of playing the Championship or not, we will find the way best suited for us to play at home. We have to keep an eye on how we want to play away from home."