Watch: Game on for Bangladesh vs SA first Test
And so, the Tigers could not take advantage of winning the toss as Mushfiq perhaps misread the pitch. However, in the morning session, the Bangladesh bowlers did not bowl any wicket-taking deliveries anyway. Perhaps more surprisingly, Mushfiq brought on off-spinner Mehedi Hasan Miraz in just the sixth over of the day. That points to a lack of faith in your fast bowlers, isn’t it? Paceman Shafiul Islam bowled only two overs in the first half an hour of the Test and was then removed for a spinner. When you extract just five overs from your pacers at the start of day one on a South African pitch and bring on a spinner in the sixth over, then why the decision to bowl first? However, the decision of bowling first backfired as Bangladesh suffered throughout the whole day.
The South Africa batsmen batted with confidence and authority and there was not that much bite and aggression from any Bangladesh bowler. There was a lot of hype before the tour regarding the fast and bouncy tracks in South Africa and how this tour could prove to be the most difficult for the Bangladesh batsmen. Perhaps that fear of facing the Proteas pace attack in the morning session of day one forced the Bangladesh team management to bowl first on a relatively good batting track. South Africa are playing under a new coach in Ottis Gibson and Test captain Du Plessis.Bangladesh team for the first Test. #SAvBAN
Watch the match LIVE on: https://t.co/gRrE3kJgYc (Android)https://t.co/FfYlStljof (iOS) pic.twitter.com/OOYGqiflKU— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) September 28, 2017
The team are slightly unsettled at the moment as they are missing two of their crucial fast bowlers in the form of Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander. All-rounders Wayne Parnell and Chris Morris were also unavailable due to injury. So no Steyn, no Philander, no Morris and no Parnell in the Proteas pace attack. Would you still field first after winning the toss?.@faf1307 happy to lose the toss. Hopes to make good use of the conditions as SA are put in to bat first. #ProteaFire #SAvBAN pic.twitter.com/TvSQ9bwE5c
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) September 28, 2017
South Africa batmen were not able to score big in their latest Test series loss against England this year. Du Plessis hoped that the Proteas batsmen will be looking for a fresh start to the summer and fire from all cylinders in the Bangladesh series. And that’s just what happened as the Tigers bowlers made it easy for them to start the series on a confident note. The first wicket fell in the 55th over but it was more a case of the batsman’s error in judgment than the bowler deserving any credit.Bangladesh have won the toss and decided to bowl first. To follow Live Score: https://t.co/sjRLfvszI9 pic.twitter.com/uhVgoiE5l4
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) September 28, 2017
Also read: Best time to beat South Africa at their home, says Hathurusingha
It was an unfortunate run out for debutant Aiden Markram, who fell just three short of a well deserved maiden Test hundred. Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha said in the pre-Test press conference that this is the best time to beat South Africa in their backyard as they are dealing with several injures. But did the decision to field first on a batting track justify that statement? Only time will tell but things are not looking bright at the moment. Be it misreading the pitch or defensive approach, Bangladesh have certainly made a cautious start to the tour.
