Preview:
The Dhaka attacks on the night of July 1, 2016, had larger implications than just throwing the country of Bangladesh and the witnessing world into a state of shock. It, in a way, validated fears of the nations who had previously refused to tour the country for reasons surrounding security.
In October 2015, Australia postponed their tour of Bangladesh after Cricket Australia (CA) was warned by the government of threats in Bangladesh. Exactly a year later, England were found in the same quandary, following the Dhaka attacks with the players caught in a fix.
So much so, the Barmy Army, the renowned group of the travelling English fans, decided to opt out of going to Bangladesh themselves, citing the same concerns.
On the other hand, while Moeen Ali unambiguously stated that he would definitely tour Bangladesh, limited-overs captain Eoin Morgan and batsman Alex Hales refused to go, copping much criticism for their decision, led by assistant coach Paul Farbrace.
Farbrace was quoted as saying by The Sun: "I won't lie to you. I was massively disappointed when they chose not to go. But the ideal scenario is that whoever comes in does brilliantly and Alex and Morgs know getting their place back isn't straightforward. Then when it comes to the first game in India, selection will be a tough call."
Morgan opting out gave Jos Buttler the chance to lead the side for the three-match One-Day International series that is scheduled to begin on Friday (October 7). Buttler, who has been to Bangladesh three times previously, most recently for the World Twenty20 in 2014, seemed quite satisfied with the security provided on their arrival in Dhaka.
The team was also reportedly surrounded by a Bangladeshi government ring of steel that included soldiers, special forces and rooftop snipers as they left their hotel for training. With security concerns addressed, England safely shifted their focus back to cricket, and they did so spectacularly, with an all-round effort in the lone tour game.
Despite a brilliant 91-ball 121 from Imrul Kayes, chasing 310, the England batsmen stood up and excelled in the challenge to pick up a four-wicket win against BCB Select XI at Fatullah with the series start just days away.
Bangladesh, who have now won their last six ODI series at home, had ruled the roost last year, beating South Africa, Pakistan and India in their backyard. However, their recently-concluded series against Afghanistan was not something that would assume the hosts to be favourites in the lead-up to the ODI series.
They were tested, tried and made to work hard for their wins by a plucky Afghanistan side who challenged them in every department. The eventual scoreline of 2-1 to Bangladesh only tells half the story, but what it did do was give them a wake-up call ahead of a series against a toughened England side, much to the contrast of the one that they ousted from the group stages of the 2015 World Cup.
The hosts are boosted by the return of Taskin Ahmed, who was earlier banned from bowling with a suspect action. Tamim Iqbal's latest century, the roaring return of left-arm spinner Mosharraf Hossain after eight years, the drafting in of Al-Amin Hossain and Kayes making a statement in the tour game will hold them in good stead in conditions they are accustomed to. Favourites or not, Bangladesh have momentum on their side, having beaten England in three of their last four ODIs.
England, since their World Cup embarrassment, have seen a tectonic shift in their approach to the shorter versions of the game, with their aggressive intent doing them a world of good. Having won three of their last four ODI series in the last 12 months, England are on the rise and have overcome opponents easily.
Now, however, with a relatively inexperienced side, with James Anderson injured, Joe Root rested, and the absence of Morgan and Hales, Buttler will have to make a couple of tough calls with his young side. One of which will be Hales's replacement at the top alongside Jason Roy. Moeen can always be their go-to man, but largely, uncapped Ben Duckett is tipped off to take that spot. If Moeen, who has only opened once since the World Cup, opens alongside Roy, then Duckett could be competing with James Vince for the No.3 slot.
The one-day series could be the perfect prelude for England to assess conditions and test their resources ahead of the two-Test series that follows the ODIs. They will also have more experienced personnel make their way back into the team.
In what was a shock call-up, Gareth Batty, the Surrey offspinner, was in the fray for a Test return more than a decade after his last appearance in 2005. Batty, 39, who had played seven Tests and picked 11 wickets, will be a spare for the frontline duo of Adil Rashid and Moeen.
Hales's absence provides teenager Haseeb Hameed, the 19-year-old from Lancashire, the chance to pair captain Alastair Cook at the top of the order. However, he will contend for the spot with Duckett, who impressed the last season with over 2700 runs across formats for Northamptonshire and England Lions.
Cook will miss out on both the warm-up games due to the birth of his second child, and will join the side just prior to the beginning of the Test series, which would leave the youngsters batting together in the warm-ups in a bid to seal their spot in the side.
Despite Bangladesh now being a force to reckon with in their own backyard, England could take heart from the fact that in their previous ODI and Test tours to Bangladesh in 2003 and 2010, they whitewashed the hosts across both formats 3-0 and 2-0 respectively.
However, with both sides not what they used to be, this could be a cracker of a series as, arguably the strongest Bangladesh side will take on a relatively inexperienced, but fearless, England side. Both teams can use this as a warm-up to bracing themselves for their respective long tours ahead with England travelling to India, and Bangladesh heading to New Zealand.
Teams:
England (From): Jason Roy, Sam Billings, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Liam Dawson, Jos Buttler(w/c), David Willey, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes, Moeen Ali, Jake Ball, Ben Duckett, James Vince
Bangladesh (From): Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim(w), Shakib Al Hasan, Sabbir Rahman, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Mashrafe Mortaza(c), Mosharraf Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Imrul Kayes, Nasir Hossain, Al-Amin Hossain
Source:
http://bit.ly/2cYy624