Bangladesh look to turn Test revival into a habit

Bangladesh will look to turn their recent Test resurgence into something more lasting when they face Afghanistan in a one-off Test beginning Friday at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

The match comes less than two months after Bangladesh recorded a historic nine-wicket victory over Australia in Darwin, their first Test win on Australian soil. 

Australia responded with an innings-and-51-run victory in Mackay to level the two-match series, leaving Bangladesh with plenty of encouragement but also a reminder that their progress must be sustained.

The Afghanistan Test therefore offers Bangladesh an opportunity to build on that progress against a side that has been developing rapidly in the longer format.

For Bangladesh, one of the biggest positives is the return of captain Najmul Hossain Shanto. After missing the Asian Games because of illness, Shanto returned to training and joined the Test squad in the UAE this week. He took part in Bangladesh's first full-squad practice in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

Head coach Phil Simmons, however, has identified one immediate challenge. Six players, including Shanto, Litton Das, Towhid Hridoy, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud and Tanzid Hasan, arrived from Japan after limited cricket and training during the rain-hit Asian Games. Simmons said their adjustment to Abu Dhabi's heat would be important.

Bangladesh already have some useful preparation behind them. Their two-day practice match against the UAE ended in a draw, with Iqbal Hossain Emon and Taijul Islam leading the bowling effort.

Afghanistan will enter the contest without two of their biggest names. Rashid Khan and Ibrahim Zadran have been rested from Test cricket following medical advice. Their absence leaves Afghanistan without its most celebrated leg-spinner and one of its established top-order batters.

But Afghanistan still possess a competitive red-ball unit. Rahmat Shah will lead the side in his first Test as full-time captain, while domestic performers Shahidullah Kamal and Yamin Ahmadzai have earned recalls after outstanding first-class seasons. Shahidullah has scored 538 runs at an average of 76.85, while Yamin has taken 42 wickets at 12.73.

Simmons expects the Abu Dhabi surface to offer a good contest but believes it could be slow, with Afghanistan likely to depend heavily on their spinners. That could make Bangladesh's batting against spin a decisive part of the five-day battle.

The Test begins at 10am local time on Friday, with Bangladesh seeking more than another victory. After Australia showed that their recent improvement is real, Afghanistan provide the next opportunity to prove it can become a habit.