Christchurch (New Zealand) (AFP) – New Zealand won the toss and opted to bowl in the second and final Test against Bangladesh in Christchurch on Friday.
As expected for a New Zealand wicket, the Hagley Oval pitch has a distinct green tinge providing bowler friendly conditions.
“Hopefully we can do the job with the ball,” New Zealand captain Kane Williamson said.
“We want to do the job a little bit better than in Wellington,” he added, referring to Bangladesh scoring 595-8 when sent into bat first on a green wicket in the first Test.
Despite their imposing first innings then, Bangladesh were beaten by seven wickets.
They have not won a game on their New Zealand tour and have lost three key players for this Test with Mushfiqur Rahim, Imrul Kayes and Mominul Haque all out injured. They have also dropped Subashis Roy.
“Throughout the series we have had our moments. This is a new game, new challenge,” captain Tamim Iqbal said.
It is the first time in almost 10 years that Bangladesh has not featured Mushfiqur in its line up.
Nurul Hasan replaces Mushfiqur behind the stumps, Soumya Sarkar comes in for opener Imrul Kayes, Nazmul Hossain Shanto will make his debut replacing Mominul and Rubel Hossain is in for Subashis.
New Zealand have kept an unchanged line up and confirmed they will again adopt short-ball tactics in an attempt to unsettle the Bangladesh batsmen.
When Pakistan batted first on the same wicket two months ago they were all out in their first innings for 133.
But rather than being rattled by bounce, they were undone by Colin de Grandhomme who took six wickets with his modest medium pacers.
Teams
New Zealand: Tom Latham, Jeet Raval, Kane Williamson (capt), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, Colin de Grandhomme, BJ Watling, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult
Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal (capt), Soumya Sarkar, Nazmul Hossain, Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Nurul Hasan, Sabbir Rahman, Mehedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Rubel Hossain, Kamrul Islam Rabbi
Umpires: Nigel Llong (ENG), Paul Reiffel (AUS)
Third Umpire: Marais Erasmus (RSA)
Match referee: Javagal Srinath (IND)
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