Bangladesh seek redemption in 1st Test against Ireland

Bangladesh are determined to come all guns blazing as they take on Ireland in the two-match Test series opening game at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today (Tuesday).

The match starts at 9.30 AM.
Bangladesh are playing this match, having played their last Test in June.
In this period, they played 28 white-ball matches (ODI and T20). While the hosts are the utmost favourite to win the game, the only area of concern is whether they can smoothly transit to long version format.

Moreover, the batting will come up with lack of confidence after showing perennial inconsistency.
Mahmudul Hasan Joy was brought back to the side to open with Shadman Islam who has Test average of 40.57 this year. Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das will add experience to the middle-order but they need to play long innings if Bangladesh is to dominate a Test minnow like Ireland.

However, Mominul hasn't had any century since September last year, while Liton Das couldn't score any century since 2022. Mushfiqur Rahim though had a 163 against Sri Lanka this year, the veteran who will play his 99th Test today of late suffered some inconsistency.

Bangladesh will particularly rely on their spinners even though Sylhet generally tends to favour pacers to some extent. In Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Bangladesh have two good spinners, if not world class, to leave Ireland batters in disarray.

Taijul is just nine wickets shy of overtaking Shakib Al Hasan as Bangladesh's highest wicket-taker in Test format. If he gets going well, there is a chance that he can create history in this match.

Ireland also knew that they would have to deal with relentless spin attack to survive in the Test.
"Everyone seems to have a take on what the pitches will be like in Bangladesh, but I think you can get caught up in that too much," Ireland batter Harry Tector said.

"I think it's important as players - and particularly as batters - to just assess conditions on the morning of the game, what it looks like, what it's like overhead."

The two sides played just one Test, with Bangladesh winning it by seven wickets, thanks to a brilliant performance of Mushfiqur Rahim who made 126 and an unbeaten 51 in two innings.

Ireland have won their three most recent Test match appearances, with the side defeating Zimbabwe by 63 runs during a one-off Test in Bulawayo in February. The two-match series in Bangladesh is their only second multi-Test series.

Bangladesh on the other hand played four Tests this year, winning one, losing two and drawing one. The Ireland series is a chance for them to improve their Test numbers.

Bangladesh: Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Kumer Das, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury and Hasan Murad.

Ireland: Andrew Balbirnie (c), Curtis Campher, Cade Carmichael, Stephen Doheny, Gavin Hoey, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Liam McCarthy, Paul Stirling, Jordan Neill, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker and Craig Young. �"BSS