Three reasons why Bangladesh deserve three-Test series
Their last two home series have ended 1-1, and the cricket has been competitive throughout
ESPNcricinfo staff
07-Sep-2017
Bangladesh have drawn both their previous home series 1-1 • Getty Images
Series are being left undecided
Bangladesh drew their last two home series 1-1 against Australia and England, but both times the schedule could not accommodate a decider. The justification, in the past, might have been that the series would be too one-sided but with their performance on a steady incline over the past couple of years, Bangladesh have proven they aren't the minnows they once were, especially in their own conditions.
Bangladesh drew their last two home series 1-1 against Australia and England, but both times the schedule could not accommodate a decider. The justification, in the past, might have been that the series would be too one-sided but with their performance on a steady incline over the past couple of years, Bangladesh have proven they aren't the minnows they once were, especially in their own conditions.
The matches have been fought intensely
Two of the closest Tests of the past 12 months have been played in Bangladesh. In the first Test against England, in Chittagong, Bangladesh fell just 22 runs short of their target in the fourth innings. At no point in the Test did a team get too far ahead, with England getting a 45-run first-innings lead and then setting the hosts 286 to win.
Two of the closest Tests of the past 12 months have been played in Bangladesh. In the first Test against England, in Chittagong, Bangladesh fell just 22 runs short of their target in the fourth innings. At no point in the Test did a team get too far ahead, with England getting a 45-run first-innings lead and then setting the hosts 286 to win.
In the series against Australia, the first Test was again close, with Australia losing by 20 runs after late partnerships in their first innings and a David Warner century gave them a chance of a come-from-behind win. Even though the second Test was decided by seven wickets, it was close till the fourth morning, after which Nathan Lyon swung the game Australia's way.
The crowds will come
Cricket is massively popular in Bangladesh, but Test-match crowds are smaller than ones for limited-over games. The series against Australia had an average attendance of 4,000. There were some days in Chittagong, though, that had the stadium around half-full, and the expectation is that with longer series and Bangladesh doing well in Tests, more people will come through the gates.
Cricket is massively popular in Bangladesh, but Test-match crowds are smaller than ones for limited-over games. The series against Australia had an average attendance of 4,000. There were some days in Chittagong, though, that had the stadium around half-full, and the expectation is that with longer series and Bangladesh doing well in Tests, more people will come through the gates.