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Bangladesh v England, 1st Test Day Five: Five Things We Learned

England take a one-nil lead in the series with a 22-run win over Bangladesh. Here’s what we learned from a compelling first Test in Chittagong…

MAN OF THE MATCH – Ben Stokes (103 runs, 6-46)

It had to be, really. Even taking the 19-minutes of play today in isolation – when England needed someone to win them the game, Stokes obliged. Speculation was rife about how the tourists should go about taking two wickets, with Bangladesh needing 33 for a famous victory. Some thought seam, others wanted spin – somehow you knew Stokes would be involved either way. Without his wicket of Mushfiqur Rahim late on the second day and third-morning spell of three for nine in six overs, England don’t get their first innings lead of 45. Without his 85 later on day three, there is nothing resembling a four innings target of 286. When there were moments to be seized, Stokes did just that. He becomes only the seventh player – and third Englishman – to score more than 100 runs and take six or more wickets in the same Test. Calmer and more measured at the crease – has the added responsibility of vice-captaincy during the ODI series change Our Ben? Who knows what Eoin Morgan’s absence has done for his own career, but it may have just bumped Stokes’ up to another level.

COOK’S HUNCH PAYS OFF

With two overs to go before the new ball, and with the old one reversing, the smart money was on Alastair Cook starting with seam. Not to mention that he trusts his seamers with his life and wouldn’t trust the spinners to take the bins out. When the scoreboard ticked over to 80 overs, Cook would have been forgiven for bringing on a spinner with the new nut for one of Broad or Stokes. He decided against it, allowing Broad to continue (he conceded two runs, which included a single to Taijul Islam which gave him the strike for the next over). Two inswinging deliveries later, the game was England’s.

RED SUN LINING

For the longest time, tours to Bangladesh for players and supporters, both travelling and armchair, were a chore. With England captains rested for “bigger” series that lay ahead, it was where new caps were handed out and future quiz questions were made. No more. The cricket has been competitive and, crucially, the pitch at Chittagong was a long way from the tired, turgid pitches that have often greeted touring sides. As for Bangladesh’s path over the last two years, this Test shows that their progression has been as much about their competitiveness as it does about their increased strength and depth. That this 22-run defeat is Bangladesh’s smallest margin of defeat in terms of runs should not be overlooked. Nor should Sabbir Rahman’s unbeaten 64, which must rank as one of Bangladesh’s finest knock in a debut Test.


50-50

Of the 16 decisions umpire Kumar Dharmasena made that were reviewed, half came back overturned. Or, if you were feeling particularly generous with your glass half-full of something strong, he got eight right. It was a poor match for 2012′s ICC umpire of the year, an award that gets passed around more than the spare box in the club kit bag. Today, he had the ignominy of having a decision rebuked in just 19-minutes of play. That the game did not finish on one against him is something, I suppose. But even the final wicket did throw up more contention. Was Shafiul Islam playing a shot? There’s a strong argument that he was, with bat coming down very late after a laboured stride forward. Tail-end batsmen aren’t renowned for their aptitude against 90mph reverse swing. Still, Shafiul’s ineptitude was far outweighed by Dharmasena’s.

DHAKA DELIBERATIONS

As Michael Atherton said on Sky at the game’s conclusion, we have learned nothing new about England after this. Stokes is great, the top order is a mess and the spinners are a bit iffy. There is much to consider: should Gary Ballance be dropped? Does Haseeb Hameed play the next match to allow Ben Duckett to move into the middle order? Is it time to just gamble on the freakish talents of Jos Buttler, despite his limited exposure to the red ball in the last 18 months? And what of Zafar Ansari: his left-arm option and pace will add control and more bite on what is likely to be another turner in Dhaka. Can he be shoehorned in? It will be in keeping with how Alastair Cook and Trevor Bayliss operate to keep things as is, but with a grueling India series right around the corner, they will be tempted to make at least two changes to ensure that as few players as possible go to India “cold”.