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I like the look of Ravindra with the bat last night. Great break out innings for him. I know it was a bit of a road to bat on, but him and Conway made that chase look very easy. And not really anything other than good technical cricket shots - the odd reverse sweep excluded.
 
Very early days, but let's just play the semis now based on the ICC table.....

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A very polished performance by the whole team. I know the majority of the plaudits will go the way of Conway and Ravindra, and they should because that was one the great partnerships of NZ cricket! But, Matt Henry, Mitch Santner and Trent Boults bowling along with Tom Latham's captaincy was the catalyst for the victory. Well rewarded for staying up late, still luxuriating in some of those absurdly good shots.
 
I like the look of Ravindra with the bat last night. Great break out innings for him. I know it was a bit of a road to bat on, but him and Conway made that chase look very easy. And not really anything other than good technical cricket shots - the odd reverse sweep excluded.

I was really impressed with how cleanly he struck the ball. And all around the ground too, with some power. He has been a bit of a candidate for LBW, but he has always had to come in a score from ball one at the bottom of the order. I think NZC has nurtured him really well, hopefully he can push on. We'll see how well he plays against the moving ball.
 
CRICKET

Cricket: Blackcaps aim to begin new World Test Championship bid in style against Bangladesh​


As they prepare to dust off and don the whites and change the colour of the ball, the two-test tilt against Bangladesh is more than just another test series for the Blackcaps.
"It's been a while," said captain Tim Southee, a day out from the start of the first test Sylhet.
"It's been a heavy diet of white ball cricket so the guys are just happy to be playing some test cricket and it's the start of a new test championship cycle, which is exciting."

A swift switch of focus means the delight and disappointment of the one-day international World Cup is now very much in the past.
"I think it is firstly acknowledging how special that World Cup was," said breakout star Daryl Mitchell.
"To be in India, in front of millions of people is always special. And then recognising what an opportunity we have in a new test cycle in the World Test Championship.

"It's always challenging coming straight from a World Cup and the efforts that the boys put in there over a long period of time.

"Having had a few days to relive those memories and put those in the past, here we are now getting stuck into some test cricket."
The hectic nature of their schedule's a reflection of the state of the global game. This tour continues what's already been a busy year away from home for many.
"I just want to cherish every moment I can wearing the silver fern," said Mitchell. "I've had six days at home since April 9."
But ahead of the side's first test in Bangladesh in 10 years, that regular overseas experience, particularly in the subcontinent, could prove crucial.
"If we'd come straight from green wickets in New Zealand to Bangladesh wickets, it's a big change," said assistant coach Luke Ronchi.

"But for the majority of our group here, they have been in India, they have been at the World Cup, so they have been practicing on different surfaces."
The Blackcaps will face a different looking Bangladesh line-up, with captain Shakib Al-Hasan one of five first-choice players out due to injury.
"To not have them here from a spectacle point of view is disappointing," Ronchi admitted.

"But I think from our point of view, when you have to play against them, you know the challenges you've got when you do so to not have to is a good thing."
The Blackcaps haven't won a test match in Bangladesh since 2008. Their last visit was in 2013, when both matches ended in draws.
"We achieved some pretty cool things last summer as a test side and we've been put on ice as group for a while so just looking forward to getting back out there and playing some test cricket," Southee added.
Both tests will be screened live and free-to-air on ThreeNow.
Watch live, free-to-air coverage of the first test between the Blackcaps and Bangladesh on ThreeNow from 4pm, Tuesday or follow along via our live updates

 
Bangladesh and New Zealand meet for their first World Test Championship game of the new cycle
Sylhet promises batting-friendly conditions as both teams shift focus to the longest format



The first Test match after the World Cup in India is taking place in Sylhet, which geographically, is not a million miles away, but certainly in terms of atmosphere, it is another world. New Zealand are playing their first Test in eight months, Bangladesh in five months. It is the kick-off point for the World Test Championship for both teams, so at the very least, points are at stake.

New Zealand were the defending champions in the last cycle, but they were nowhere near close to making the final. That might just have prompted them to be that little bit more switched on, resulting in bringing their best team on this tour after sending a second-string side for the ODIs that were played here in September. Everything was different then.

Kane Williamson will lead the batting unit alongside Tom Latham, Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls in the top four. Daryl Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra, having totalled five centuries between them in the World Cup, will be brimming with confidence.

Captain Tim Southee will lead a bowling attack that is likely to be spin-dominated. Ish Sodhi is in the mix - he took a six-for against Bangladesh this year, albeit in a different format. Mitchell Santner seems a good shout to play his first Test in over two years. Ajaz Patel is another major option for their selectors. Ravindra's all-round skills will be key, while Neil Wagner too could expect to bowl a lot if he is the second seamer with Southee.

Bangladesh have their own reasons to want to get on the field quickly. They had a poor World Cup campaign. The aftermath hasn't been great either and they go into this series without many of their key players. Captain Shakib Al Hasan and his deputy Litton Das are out. So are fast bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain. Apart from Litton who was given paternity leave, the rest are all injured. Bangladesh have had to rethink their bowling attack even as Shakib and Tamim Iqbal have left big holes in the batting line-up.

Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Zakir Hasan are the likely openers, but a lot will depend on captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mominul Haque and Mushfiqur Rahim. Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz will carry the inexperienced bowling attack. The picture ain't pretty for Bangladesh, but Sylhet could provide the sort of exit they want from the talk about the World Cup, which doesn't seem to end in Bangladesh.

Form guide:
Bangladesh WWLLL (last five Tests, most recent first)
New Zealand WWWLD

In the spotlight: Mominul Haque and Rachin Ravindra

Usually Mominul Haque doesn't want to be in the spotlight. It was one of the reasons that he gave up the Test captaincy last year. His runs had dried up. Many felt it was because of his aversion to the limelight. Mominul, however, remains Bangladesh's Test batting mainstay. He will be expected to get back in the groove quickly even though he has stressed in the recent past that it isn't easy being a Test specialist playing this format after big gaps. Still, he was the highest run-getter in the recently-concluded National Cricket League first-class tournament so batting form may not be a big worry for the left-hander.

There will be a lot of interest in Rachin Ravindra after his World Cup bonanza. He finished as the fourth highest run-getter in the competition, including centuries against England, Australia and Pakistan. He is likely to have a different role in the Test series against Bangladesh, probably batting down the order and involved in a lot of bowling. He is already a changed cricketer, having been given the opportunity of a lifetime so early in his international career.

Team news: Extra spinners in both XIs

Nurul Hasan will take Litton's place behind the stumps, while Khaled Ahmed is likely to take Taskin's spot in the bowling unit. Nayeem Hasan is likely to be the third spinner if they choose a five-man attack.

Bangladesh (probable): 1 Mahmudul Hasan Joy, 2 Zakir Hasan, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 4 Mominul Haque, 5 Mushfiqur Rahim, 6 Nurul Hasan (wk), 7 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 8 Nayeem Hasan 9 Taijul Islam, 10 Shoriful Islam, 11 Khaled Ahmed

New Zealand have a spin puzzle to solve. Ravindra is likely to bat in the top six after a stellar World Cup campaign, but there could be a toss-up between Ajaz, Santner and Sodhi for two positions.

New Zealand (probable): 1 Tom Latham, 2 Devon Conway, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Henry Nicholls, 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 Rachin Ravindra, 7 Tom Blundell (wk), 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Tim Southee (capt), 10 Ajaz Patel/Ish Sodhi, 11 Neil Wagner

Pitch and conditions: Sylhet is good for batting

Sylhet's reputation as the best batting ground in Bangladesh was strengthened by the five white-ball international matches held this year. It hasn't hosted a Test in five years but during this period, there have been six 400-plus scores in first-class matches at this venue. The weather is mostly dry, with the breeze coming down from the hillside often helping drop the temperature further.

Stats and trivia

Sylhet is hosting only its second Test match. The first match was in 2018 when Zimbabwe beat Bangladesh.
New Zealand are playing Tests in Bangladesh after exactly ten years. Bangladesh, meanwhile, have toured New Zealand in 2017, 2019 and 2022 to play six Tests in total.
Shanto has become Bangladesh's captain within five years of making his Test debut. That's a quicker climb to leadership than Mushfiqur and Mominul, both of whom became captains six years after their respective Test debuts.


Quotes

"Dusting off the whites and back together as a Test group. We achieved some pretty cool things in the backend of last summer. It has been a heavy diet of white-ball cricket so the guys are excited to be back in Test cricket. Start of the World Test Championship cycle is exciting."
New Zealand captain Tim Southee can't wait to get back to work

"I personally believe I can lead the team in all formats. It is easier for anyone to plan as a long-term captain. Whoever comes through as the next captain, he will have a better time if he gets a longer rope."
Najmul Hossain Shanto on taking on Bangladesh's Test captaincy for this series.

 
Can understand the retention of Nicholls as leaving him out off 200 in his last match would be a bit stiff, but still surprised Ravindra isn't in the 11. I also really like the thought of Phillips at test level though, so hope he makes the most of his opportunity.
 
Seriously are we the only team that leaves out a batsman who is in terrific form and has just played 10 innings in similar conditions?

Forgetting Nicholls for the moment why not Ravindra in place of Latham who had no form in India and gives us another spin option?
 
Seriously are we the only team that leaves out a batsman who is in terrific form and has just played 10 innings in similar conditions?

Forgetting Nicholls for the moment why not Ravindra in place of Latham who had no form in India and gives us another spin option?
His world cup form was terrible, but in his last 3 series Latham has averaged 52.7. Just the one ton but plenty of scores in excess of 50 including some good innings in Pakistan so it would be a tough call to drop him right at the moment.
 
Seriously are we the only team that leaves out a batsman who is in terrific form and has just played 10 innings in similar conditions?

Forgetting Nicholls for the moment why not Ravindra in place of Latham who had no form in India and gives us another spin option?
Nicholls would be the one to drop out for me.

We have a pretty strong batting line up with Conway, Latham, Williamson, Nicholls/Ravindra, Mitchell, Blundell, Phillips
 
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