Signs of batting form ahead of steeper trials

The West Indies Select XI bowling attack was nothing to write home about as Bangladesh began preparations for the upcoming Test series against the Windies with a two-day warm-up game at Coolidge in Antigua on Monday.

The visitors ended on 253 for seven after being asked to bat on the opening day, knowing they had a good foray with the bat, receiving enough of an indication of the difficulty of playing in the West Indies. However, steeper challenges are yet to come, with the first Test beginning on November 22 in Antigua.

Bangladesh would be wary of how the top order deals with the bounce and pace present on West Indies surfaces during the Tests. Bangladesh batters did about enough to suggest that they were acclimatising to the conditions, but there are worries about what a quality West Indies pace attack can do.

Tour match performances in the past in the West Indies did not reflect what was to follow in the Tests either. In 2018, Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah Riyad got hundreds, and Shakib Al Hasan made fifty before Bangladesh were bowled out for 43 in the first Test, with Kemar Roach alone taking five for 8 runs.

In 2022, Tamim got 162, and Shanto made fifty in the tour match, but eight Bangladesh batters did not even reach double figures in the first Test's first innings in Antigua, as Bangladesh were bowled out for 103.

Batting has been the biggest difficulty in West Indies tours, and the performances of the openers today leave room for doubt. Both openers, Mahmudul Hasan and Zakir Hasan, played away from their bodies to get caught at slips cheaply.

There would be some relief in how the rest of the batting order dealt with the challenges, albeit on a much slower wicket than one to be expected at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in the first Test.

Mominul Haque looked composed during his 31 off 58, dealing with the extra bounce before he misjudged a bouncer and managed to play it right into the wicketkeeper's hands. Shahadat Dipu played a few shots during a 25-run knock before he was done by an in-dipper from Justin Greaves, showing the concerns the top order carries.

Bangladesh team management, aware of the differences in conditions between Coolidge and Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, let all the batters get a run in with the bat, as most of the latter batters in the middle order retired.

Liton Das, however, looked at ease during his 31 before he retired. The slower nature of the bounce, however, allowed some ease for the batters. Jaker Ali, who saw off some deliveries uncomfortably, gradually settled in. Jaker's innings was only 19 deliveries old when Mahidul Ankon joined him at the crease, and it produced the most productive opportunity for the Tigers to test their middle and lower-middle order as the duo put on an 81-run stand.

Both batters used their feet well to spin that was availed to them early during the partnership. Without Shakib Al Hasan and Najmul Hossain in the line-up, the rest of the batting order would need to step up. Jaker Ali got 48, and Ankon managed 41 before both retired. Both got the majority of their runs against spin, but pace did cause some discomfort, although they appeared effective during the tour match's first innings.