SA v BAN, 2nd Test, Preview: Bangladesh face an uphill task of overcoming the hosts on a ‘fiery track’

South Africa and Bangladesh played one of the most one-sided Test matches in the recent past and the memories of that game are already fading. At the same time, the sub-continent giants Pakistan and Sri Lanka were involved in a thrilling contest which went on till the final session of day 5. However, the visitors need to buckle up as they face the hosts who might be licking their lips on a bouncy pitch at Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein.

Bangladeshi fast bowlers looked flat on a mundane pitch in Potchefstroom and it seemed that they were largely looking to contain with a defensive mindset. While that can happen to any team after playing at home where spinners wreak havoc, the similar mindset could lead to an embarrassment in the final Test of the series. The skipper Mushfiqur Rahim was ashamed of his team’s performance after the first game and would love to see them improving leaps and bounds. He has to shoulder a lot of responsibility now as Tamim Iqbal is ruled out with an injury.

Proteas, on the other hand, had a near perfect game but were guilty of dropping quite a few catches. The bowling attack also looks depleted as Morne Morkel struggle with the left side strain during the second innings in the first Test. Their batsmen though looked comfortable on a flat track and the newbie Aiden Markram would look to extend his golden run with the bat to seal the place at the top at least for the series against India. However, the demand of the skipper Faf Du Plessis for the lively pitch has been accepted and it awaits a fascinating contest between bat and bowl. Also, it brings the bowlers of Bangladesh in the game which means we might witness a close game.

Toss: Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bowl first

South Africa (Playing XI): Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Faf du Plessis(c), Quinton de Kock(w), Andile Phehlukwayo, Wayne Parnell, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Duanne Olivier

Bangladesh (Playing XI): Imrul Kayes, Soumya Sarkar, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim(c), Mahmudullah, Sabbir Rahman, Liton Das(w), Taijul Islam, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Subashis Roy

Focus will be on

Aiden Markram (South Africa)

The youngster Markram thrilled everyone on his debut and grafted his innings to the perfection. Opening alongside Dean Elgar, he looked calm and composed right from the word go and it seemed the hosts finally found the replacement for Graeme Smith at the top. However, he would love to continue with his good work and prove that the knock of 97 was not a one-off. He has the potential of playing long innings as Du Plessis too rates him highly. So Markram would be itching to get onto the field and add more runs to his tally.

Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh)

The left arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman was a sensation when he made his debut at the highest level. He was the best bowler in the first Test which had nothing to gain for the fast bowlers of Bangladesh. The 22-year-old picked 3 wickets across both innings but the skipper would hope to get more out of him on a lively pitch in Bloemfontein. If Rahman gets into his groove early on, the visitors could well trouble and trump them in the final match of the series. He needs to lead the bowling attack from the front and guide the other bowlers who were clueless in the first game.

Team Combinations-

South Africa

The home side’s dilemma essentially boils down to the replacement of the fast bowler Morne Morkel. Dane Paterson was drafted into the squad and he looks the most probable to take his place in the playing XI. However, there is also a possibility that Wayne Parnell might get a nod ahead who warmed the bench in Potchefstroom as well. Andile Phehlukwayo is expected to keep his place and the batting attack does not need to be tinkered which was hardly challenged.

Bangladesh

The hopes of the visitors to cause an upset were severely jolted when their ace batsman Tamim Iqbal was ruled out of the game following the recurrence of his thigh injury. Soumya Sarkar will come in to open the batting after overcoming a shoulder problem. The batting line-up which folded only on 90 in the second innings needs fare better this time around as they don’t have many options to bank on. The bowling attack though is not confirmed with only Mehidy Hasan and Mustafizur assured of their places after a poor performance in the last match. There is a possibility that Rubel Hossain might be included to replace Shafiul Islam who was inconsistent with his lines.

StatAttack

4 – Number of Tests South Africa have played at the Bloemfontein so far. The home team won all the four Test matches. The last time they played at this venue was in 2008 also against Bangladesh.

92 – Wickets Kagiso Rabada has picked up in the 21 Test matches he has played so far. He needs eight more wickets to complete 100 wickets in the Test cricket. If Rabada completes the milestone in the next Test, he will be the joint 3rd quickest among South African players to reach 100 Test wickets. Vernon Philander needed 19 Tests while Dale Steyn took 20 Tests to complete 100 wickets.

27 – Number of centuries by Hashim Amla in Test cricket so far. Only Jacques Kallis has more Test hundreds for South Africa. With his hundred in the first Test, Amla equalled Graeme Smith’s 27 Test hundreds for SA.