Previews

England aim to tame Tigers

Author: Brandon Barker
Date: 12/03/2010
Cricket betting

England are all set to meet Bangladesh in the first of two Tests, beginning in Chittagong on Friday, on the back of a successful run of results.

Captained by Alastair Cook, England have enjoyed a fruitful tour of the Asian country to date, beating a Bangladesh Cricket Board XI on two occasions before securing a 3-0 whitewash in the one-day international series against the Tigers.

Now they will face the improving nation on the Test circuit with the second Test starting in Dhaka on March 20.

One negative for the visitors is the continuing struggles of Kevin Pietersen.

He has failed to return to the form that shot him to prominence following Achilles surgery last year and although coach Andy Flower is likely to keep faith with the South Africa-born star, he must find form against the lowest ranked Test nation.

It could be the perfect opportunity to recapture his touch ahead of the ICC World Twenty20 in May.

He will be looking to be firing on all cylinders by the time the five ODIs against Australia in June and July, Bangladesh's trip to England and the more difficult four Test matches against Pakistan come along this summer.

With Andrew Strauss rested for the Bangladesh party, it offers the likes of left-hand opener Michael Carberry to stake a future claim to be selected in the side.

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The Hampshire man, if given the nod, will be looking to impress ECB bigwigs ahead of the busy months.

Jonathan Trott's position in the squad is solid after his debut in the Ashes success last year, but fellow Warwickshire man Ian Bell is still likely to be under scrutiny.

The pressure has now switched to Cook and it will be on him to lead his overwhelming sportsbook favourites to victory.

Dependable Paul Collingwood will keep the middle-order strung together and wicketkeeper-batsman Matt Prior will be looking to perform with bat and gloves.

Surrey's Steven Davies will act as understudy to Prior and big-hitting Luke Wright could be an option further down the line.

With James Anderson out of the set-up, the bowling attack looks a little less potent.

Stuart Broad is set to shake off a back problem to feature, but Graham Onions has headed home due to a similar injury, while Graham Swann the obvious spin choice.

James Tredwell of Kent will be his deputy and Ajmal Shahzad, who made his international debut in the one-day series, will be pushing for a Test start.

Tim Bresnan has been added to the squad following Ryan Sidebottom's thigh injury and he will slug it out with Liam Plunkett for a starting berth, although Steven Finn is challenging for a shock call.

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