Bangladesh vs West Indies 2021, 2nd Test: Match Preview And Prediction

From Thursday (11th February), the hosts Bangladesh and the visitors West Indies will take on each other in the second or last game of the two-match Test series at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (Mirpur, Dhaka).

Currently, the visitors are leading this Test series by the 1-0 after incredibly claiming their stunning three-wicket victory at Chattogram in the first Test.

Bangladesh vs West Indies 2021, 2nd Test: Match Preview

Bangladesh

Despite some ups and downs in that recent Chattogram Test, the hosts Bangladesh were mostly in control in all the first four days of that match. But ultimately the visitors stunned the cricket world on the final day and snatched one of the greatest victory.

Moreover, Bangladesh will miss their crucial all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan in the second Test match. While Shakib just recover from the groin injury ahead of the first Test of the series, he got a thigh injury during West Indies’ first innings of the Chattogram Test match and missed out the complete third and fourth innings of that match.

After winning the Player of the Series award in the recently concluded home ODI series against West Indies, Shakib scored crucial 68 runs during the first innings of the Chattogram Test.

For the upcoming Dhaka Test, Soumya Sarkar has joined the home squad as the replacement of Shakib. While Soumya has played 15 Tests, he last time played a Test match in September 2019 against Afghanistan at Chattogram. Earlier, in the ODI series against the visitors West Indies in their ongoing tour, Soumya appeared in all the three ODIs but he only get some opportunity in the last ODI where he scored 7 runs but took one wicket (1/22).

Coming back to the first Test of the ongoing series, Bangladesh top-order batsmen mostly disappointed, except opener Shadman Islam. Shadman scored crucial 59 runs during the first innings of that Test. But he will also miss the second Test due to hip injury.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz scored a brilliant century in the first innings while captain Mominul Haque hit a century in their second innings. Apart from Shakib Al Hasan’s 68 runs in their first innings, wicket-keeper batsman Liton Das scored 69 runs in their second innings. But most of the other batsmen disappointed in that Test. Especially, in the first innings, many of the Bangladesh batsmen got some good start but they failed to capitalise those.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz was also excellent with the ball in hand as he took four wickets in both innings (4/58 & 4/113). Taijul Islam also impressed in both the innings (2/84 & 2/91). Mustafizur Rahman got two wickets during visitors’ first innings (2/46) but he remained wicketless in the fourth innings (0/71). Nayeem Hasan (2/54 & 1/105) was too expensive in the last innings while Bangladesh clearly missed Shakib in the final innings.

In the Dhaka Test, the hosts must have to win to only save this Test series.

Full Squad

Mominul Haque (C), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mithun, Liton Das, Yasir Ali Chowdhury, Saif Hassan, Mustafizur Rahman, Mehidy Hassan, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Abu Jayed, Ebadat Hossain, Hasan Mahmud

West Indies

Despite not having their strong Test squad, the visitors West Indies always showed their desperate fight in the Chattogram Test. However, still, their victory is remarkable, which has set a great example for Test cricket.

Caribbean bowlers provided some good starts in both the innings but they failed to maintain those big pressures. Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican impressed with his bowling performances in both the innings as he took 7 wickets in that game (4/133 & 3/57). Rahkeem Cornwall was also some effective in his role as a bowler (2/114 & 3/81).

In their first innings, captain Kraigg Brathwaite played the crucial knock of 76 runs while their other top-order batsmen quickly returned to the pavilion. Debutant Kyle Mayers, who was the ultimate star in that game, scored 40 runs in that innings while Jermaine Blackwood (68) and Joshua Da Silva (42) massively helped the visitors to avoid follow-on.

Despite mostly got starts, the top-orders failed to impress in the fourth innings. But two debutant Nkrumah Bonner and Kyle Mayers’ 216 runs partnership for the fourth wicket completely changed the atmosphere of that game. Everyone know the late part where Bonner was dismissed on 86 runs, but Mayers (210*) created history by becoming the first Test debutant to score a double-century in the fourth innings and it ultimately guided them to the unforgettable victory.

A draw in the Dhaka Test will be enough for the visitors to win this Test series. However, they will try their best to win this upcoming Test too.

Full Squad

Kraigg Brathwaite (C), Jermaine Blackwood (vc), Nkrumah Bonner, John Campbell, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Kavem Hodge, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Shayne Moseley, Veerasammy Permaul, Kemar Roach, Raymon Reifer, Jomel Warrican.

Bangladesh vs West Indies 2021, 2nd Test: Match Prediction

Despite the incredible result for the West Indies in the Chattogram Test, and the same struggling picture for Bangladesh in Test cricket, the hosts are still favourite for the Test series decider.