How many left-handers are there in the England team? After mentioning names like Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Jos Buttler, and Liam Livingstone, the reply came from the other end of the phone, “Except for Buttler, none of them has come to our country.” This conversation took place with a cricketer from the Bangladesh World Cup squad who had traveled to England in February-March. It is clear that the England team playing against Bangladesh in today’s World Cup warm-up match is not the same as the one in March. Cricketers called up to the World Cup squad will play in this match.
This England team is the current champion in One-Day Internationals (ODIs). They have dominated in T20 cricket as well. England’s dominance in white-ball cricket is well-known, primarily due to their aggressive batting.
How aggressive England can be will not be evident from Bangladesh’s current conditions. The two teams played three ODIs this year, where England did not field their full-strength side. The last time these two teams met was four years ago at the 2019 World Cup. In the 2017 Champions Trophy too, the two teams faced each other. Bangladesh has not been able to compete against England’s relentless batting on both occasions. Whether Bangladesh can withstand England’s aggression remains to be seen.
In Guwahati today, Bangladesh will face an England team that comprises the cricketers called up to the World Cup squad. Facing England’s batsmen is always a challenge, no matter the conditions. The venue itself, with its batting-friendly surface, could be a paradise for the batsmen.
In the only ODI played at this ground so far, Bangladesh won against Sri Lanka, mainly thanks to their bowlers. However, England is not Sri Lanka. Facing the likes of England’s batsmen can be a severe test for Bangladesh’s bowlers. England is known for their aggressive batting in white-ball cricket, and this match will be an excellent opportunity for Bangladesh to gauge themselves against them.
From 2015 to 2019, England was the only team in white-ball cricket history to consistently score more than 6 runs per over. In the last two years, South Africa has joined them in the pursuit of quick runs. Both these teams will also play against Bangladesh in the main part of the World Cup. Bangladesh’s bowlers, led by Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan, will face the biggest challenge against these teams.
Bangladesh’s performance in the World Cup will largely depend on the performance of their bowlers. While Bangladesh’s batting may be somewhat inconsistent, their strength lies in their bowling. The spin attack led by Shakib and Mehidy, coupled with the addition of a pace bowling dimension, has transformed Bangladesh’s bowling into a potent force. How well the bowlers perform on the world stage will be crucial for Bangladesh.
Before the World Cup match, the Bangladesh team will leave Guwahati after completing their warm-up phase. However, the venue for today’s warm-up match is not the same as the main ground in Ahmedabad where Bangladesh will play their first match in the World Cup. Still, this match provides an opportunity for the Bangladesh team to assess their strengths and weaknesses. Mahmudullah Riyad, who experienced slight discomfort while batting in the practice sessions, will not play in today’s warm-up match, but it’s not considered a significant concern, according to sources in the team. On the other hand, captain Shakib Al Hasan will also not feature in today’s warm-up match. This decision was made beforehand, and Shakib has been rested for both practice matches.
After concluding the preparatory phase in Guwahati, the Bangladesh team will head to Ahmedabad for their first match in the World Cup. Nonetheless, captain Shakib and team manager Rabeed Imam will go to Ahmedabad for the pre-World Cup photoshoot and press conference.
