MA Aziz Stadium, Chittagong DHAKA TRIBUNE“I was quite surprised how long Bangladesh have not played a Test match. I think that will be important for us to be right on the money from the first ball, to make sure our skills are up to work. Because it is a mentality change, from coming from playing white ball cricket for such a long time to be able to have the patience to bat a whole session as a batsman or bat the whole day,” said the right-arm fast bowler.
“So it can be a challenge. It will be up to the bowlers to make the batsman work hard for the first 20 runs. We know in a big series it is important to start well,” he added.
Broad also believes Bangladesh are a strong side now and have quality players who can win the game.
“We know the dangers that Bangladesh have. They have got some fantastic players who have brilliant records in both white- and red-ball cricket. And they can take the game away from you in the space of a session or even an hour,” he said before adding, “So we will do more research in the next few days before Thursday. I think the next day will be important for us, making sure our skills are up to date and we can start extremely well.”England paceman Stuart Broad was unimpressed with the condition of the MA Aziz Stadium in the port city during the second day of the first two-day practice match on Saturday and informed that the visitors even considered bowling their full 45 overs by the slow bowlers.
“It's a football ground so the outfield wasn't ideal for cricket. It was quite boggy, quite sandy. We went into the game considering bowling 45 overs of spin, not to risk the seamers as it was really wet throughout the run-ups,” Broad told the media.
“With the first Test around the corner, there are a lot of questions being asked this morning but if we had to bowl 45 overs of spin [Saturday] we would have done that but I think the seamers, especially bowling second, were able to see the ground dry out slightly,” he said.
Bangladesh played their last Test against South Africa in July, 2015. During this time, England have played as many as 16 Tests. Broad admitted that it has been a long absence for Bangladesh and that it might work as an advantage for the visiting side.
MA Aziz Stadium, Chittagong DHAKA TRIBUNE“I was quite surprised how long Bangladesh have not played a Test match. I think that will be important for us to be right on the money from the first ball, to make sure our skills are up to work. Because it is a mentality change, from coming from playing white ball cricket for such a long time to be able to have the patience to bat a whole session as a batsman or bat the whole day,” said the right-arm fast bowler.
“So it can be a challenge. It will be up to the bowlers to make the batsman work hard for the first 20 runs. We know in a big series it is important to start well,” he added.
Broad also believes Bangladesh are a strong side now and have quality players who can win the game.
“We know the dangers that Bangladesh have. They have got some fantastic players who have brilliant records in both white- and red-ball cricket. And they can take the game away from you in the space of a session or even an hour,” he said before adding, “So we will do more research in the next few days before Thursday. I think the next day will be important for us, making sure our skills are up to date and we can start extremely well.”
MA Aziz Stadium, Chittagong DHAKA TRIBUNE“I was quite surprised how long Bangladesh have not played a Test match. I think that will be important for us to be right on the money from the first ball, to make sure our skills are up to work. Because it is a mentality change, from coming from playing white ball cricket for such a long time to be able to have the patience to bat a whole session as a batsman or bat the whole day,” said the right-arm fast bowler.
“So it can be a challenge. It will be up to the bowlers to make the batsman work hard for the first 20 runs. We know in a big series it is important to start well,” he added.
Broad also believes Bangladesh are a strong side now and have quality players who can win the game.
“We know the dangers that Bangladesh have. They have got some fantastic players who have brilliant records in both white- and red-ball cricket. And they can take the game away from you in the space of a session or even an hour,” he said before adding, “So we will do more research in the next few days before Thursday. I think the next day will be important for us, making sure our skills are up to date and we can start extremely well.”