Learning process continues for Bangladesh

Bangladesh has nothing to lose going into its daunting Test series with New Zealand starting tomorrow at Hamilton's WestpacTrust Park.

The visitors, playing in conditions as foreign to those in which they play their cricket as it possible to be, know they are in for a tough time.

But captain Khaled Mashud, the side's wicket-keeper, said the whole exercise is part of the learning the side has to do if it is to develop as a Test-playing nation.

"We have a lot of talented players, especially at under-17 and under-19 level and within a few years we will have a good side.

"What we do have is a lack of match experience," he said.

A first-class competition involving matches other than limited overs games has only been going for three years in Bangladesh.

"We will try and do our best. But we are not used to this type of wicket. It was bad luck we didn't have more batting in Wanganui. This wicket has more grass and that will be helpful for the bowlers.

"We will have to play straight. In our country our batsmen like to play a lot of shots to midwicket, but here they have to play straight.

"New Zealand in New Zealand conditions will be a very good side. They played very well in Australia.

"We will try to show our best form. It is hard for us as a new team. We will improve over the next two or three years," he said.

The Bangladesh team for the first Test is: Khaled Mashud (captain), Al Sahariar, Aminul Islam, Habibul Bashar, Javed Omar, Khaled Mahmud, Manjural Islam, Mashrafe Mortaza, Mohammad Ashraful, Mohammad Sharif, Sanwar Hossain.