Whisper it quietly, but there’s a game on here. If England were reasonably pleased with their first day efforts, then Bangladesh will be much the happier with day two. England only added 35 to their overnight score, which having lost Woakes first ball of the day was probably around about what they might have hoped for. 293 might not an imposing total, but given the turn and bounce available they’ll have been fairly content with their efforts.
Tamim Iqbal clearly likes batting against England though, and having already scored two centuries against them seemed likely to make it a third as he batted through most of the day, accumulating in a more restrained style than was seen in 2010. It was hard work, as it has been for all the batsmen so far, but it provided the platform and the stability to give his team the chance not just to match England, but to go past them. Mahmadullah and Mshfiqur Rahim both gave good support, while much now rests on the shoulders of Shakib Al Hasan. However, there is still some batting to come, Mehedi Hasan at nine is considered an all rounder.
For England, they toiled hard, but they never looked to be on top, except early on when Moeen dismissed two in an over, one of which from a terrific delivery that bit on the surface. Moeen did what Moeen does – bowl some unplayable stuff amongst pretty ordinary fare. Likewise the returning Gareth Batty, often too short, often too wide, but it was he who picked up Tamim with a nice change of pace that had him playing back when forward might have been the better option.
Indeed, it was the seamers who looked the greater threat, Broad in particular went through his range of variations, sometimes in a single over. While he went wicketless, he was also extremely tight, and in a low scoring game that in itself is valuable.
Much will depend on how the wicket plays over the next couple of days. Should it deteriorate from here Bangladesh will need a useful lead given they’re batting last. But it didn’t appear any different to day one today (perhaps it shouldn’t either); this is a war of attrition. At the moment Bangladesh have the upper hand. But only just, and that can change in an instant.
Day Three Comments below
Being Outside Cricket 
Said it before the ODI series began, that this would be by far the more interesting of England’s two winter tours. Competitive, hard-fought, intriguing cricket has been a common theme throughout the 3 ODIs and now the first two days of this test. The India tour (especially the 5-tests) will be a one-sided bloodbath I’m afraid.
So enjoy this fun series while it lasts!
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I think, at this stage, we are being unduly pessimistic about the next leg of this tour. Maybe I’ll be proved wrong, but I think we’ll give them a good scrap. We don’t usually do too badly in India. Not since the “count the ways we can eff this up” tour of Gooch in 1992-3.
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Obviously I hope you’re right. But the way South Africa, who have been very good in the subcontinent in the last few years, were completely demolished in India,, despite having a better batting lineup and better spinners than England, doesn’t give me much hope.
I do hope BCCI realize the importance of competitive cricket to attract TV viewers, and prepare somewhat sporting wickets. There’s nothing worse than a one-sided 5-test series.
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“Better spinners”?
Tahir, Harmer, Piedt and Elgar aren’t exactly the reincarnation of Lock and Laker!
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Well, neither are Moeen, Rashid, Batty and Root!
Not saying that South Africa’s spin offerings are great at the moment, but if this is the opposing quartet, I think they might edge out England in terms of effectiveness on such doctored pitches (and don’t give me the excuse of climate change. Last week there was an unbroken stand of nearly 600 in the Ranji Trophy). We’ll never know, as Tests will never be structurally organised in neutral venues, even though it would be interesting to see South Africa – England in India, or India – Pakistan in England or Australia.
Harmer, incidentally has signed for Essex on a Kolpak deal – despite playing his last Test less than 2 years ago. Of course this has nothing to do with the weakening of the Rand …
Oh, and he was dropped in India despite having a sub-30 average with the ball. We’ll see how many bowlers with sub-30 averages for the series England will drop on their tour to India. Could be quite a few, if the pitches are similar (you failed as a bowler if you averaged more than 20 in that series).
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Was very generous of Sir Ali to bowl his fast bowlers for the last three overs with fading light and 15 mins over time.True ECB sportsmanship.He really depresses me.
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I’m normally happy to give Cook both barrels when I think he’s been a kn*b, and there are usually plenty of opportunities. However in that situation, this wasn’t one of them. Stokes and Broad were bowling pretty well and frankly two of the spinners in Rashid and Batty are not up to the task..
Anyway a chance to be less charitable, I got up this morning to see England 26-0 loss and the first ball I see, Cook departed, albeit to a good ball. The game is now very much in the offing with England at 37-3 and Ali being reprieved by a catch to short leg hitting the fielder’s helmet.
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Please note the correct spelling of Viledecans.
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whoever thought if was a good idea to employ Ebony Rainford-Brent and the nerd that is Dan Norcross on TMS needs a punch on the nose.
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I agree. The Bogfather has been going on about this for a while. The BBC in their cretinous wisdom have now decided to dump Geoff Boycott, and have this lady do the review of the day with Aggers. No doubt someone at the BBC in human resources (who walks around all day with a clip board, and a a lap top with a spreadsheet on it) is in their element. When they go to their next meeting, which is probably one of about 5 per day, they can regurgitate the important statistics about equal opportunities, and minority’s in the work place. It’s a double whammy.
It’s part of the BBCs determination to crow bar woman into every part of their coverage of everything. The gender politics must be rammed down everybodys throat. Female football experts, rugby experts and now cricket. I wouldn’t mind if I belived these people were there just on merit, but I don’t belive It for a minute. It is the politically correct agenda of the BBC. It now infects almost every aspect of their output. I hardly ever listen to TMS now. Even in the car.
But then I hardly ever watch much BBC at all. Another once great institution destroyed by dumbing down, and idiotic management theories. As Danny Baker said when he was sacked from radio London to be replaced by a yet another middle class Oxbridge educated vanilla drone “the BBC have more meeting rooms than studios.”
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I watched what was on offer on ITV4 last night, turned over after 10mins…it was utter shite. Ficjam starting off with “a question for you Michael” and went downhill from then on!
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ERB just asked if this was Shakib’s first Test five-for. Seriously. Not making it up.
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One detail in Shakib’s career record is that he’s played 78 f/c matches compared to 400+ List A and T20 games.
Someday soon all cricketers will be like him.
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Without Stokes, Ali, Bairstow, and Woakes England would have been useless, both in batting and bowling.
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