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

A compelling opening day of the Test series sees England just ahead of Bangladesh in Chittagong. Here’s what we learned from day one…

MAN OF THE DAY - Mehedi Hasan (5-64)

This should probably be “boy of the day”. At 18, Mehedi Hasan today became the 81st player – and 26th teen – to represent the Bangladesh Test side. Having impressed at the U19 World Cup in 2015, he was not rushed into full international cricket yet this match, against England, was only his 13th first class match. But whatever worries there may have been regarding his readiness for the biggest stage were dispelled within half-an-hour. Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim had no qualms giving him the new ball and he responded with the wickets of Ben Duckett – the ball pitching on middle and leg and hitting the top of off – and Gary Ballance in a fine opening spell. He then accounted for Joe Root after lunch with an arm ball from around the wicket, before taking the edge of Moeen Ali’s bat and then pushing the second new ball through Jonny Bairstow to become the seventh Bangladeshi bowler to take five wickets on Test debut.

ALI’S FORTUNE

During his knock of 68, Moeen Ali found himself on the right side of DRS five times! Three of the reviews were called by him – two in the first over after lunch – adjudged LBW on all three occasions by Kumar Dharmasena. An under-edge, big turn and the line of impact saved him, respectively. The two other reviews were called by Bangladesh, in response to not out decisions for the same mode of dismissal. Ironically, the first appeal Ali was subject to – an LBW shout when he had just one to his name – would have been given out had Bangladesh reviewed it.

BAIRSTOW’S YEAR

At another time, the sight of Jonny Bairstow walking in on a turning pitch will certainly not have drawn the same reaction from an England fan as it did today. It may only be day one, but at 106 for five, the game was in the balance. Bairstow exuded calm and, together with Moeen Ali, put on 88 for the sixth wicket. In reaching 52, he became only the second wicketkeeper, after ex-England coach Andy Flower, to score a thousand runs or more in the calendar year. Two more runs and he’ll have the highest tally outright.

ONE DEBUT SHORT?

There were four debutants on show today, with just one for England in Ben Duckett, who became the newest member of the “Cook’s Opening Partner’s Since Strauss” club. But what of Haseeb Hameed? During the build-up, the signs had pointed to both starting, with Hameed up top and Duckett in the middle order. In the end, Gary Ballance, as the man in possession, was given a chance to further stake his claim. He did not take it. The decision taken, while perhaps hard to swallow after Ballance fell to a tame LBW for just one, is understandable but it does present the England management with an issue. If Ballance does not perform in the second innings, do they bring Hameed in for the second Test? That would perhaps go against their recent thinking of allowing a player the end of the series. But that could also mean Hameed makes his debut in the cauldron of an away series in India. This series seemed like the ideal opportunity to blood two, deserving youngsters.

WHAT NEXT

Moeen Ali, speaking at stumps, was surprised that the pitch span as much. What that has done is ensured that the toss, by and large, is meaningless as the surface will only wear further. Early on, England would have taken 250 but after Bairstow and Ali’s hands, coupled with Chris Woakes’ start (36) and the strength of the tail – every batsman has a first class hundred and only Stuart Broad has less than three – 300 is well within each. Ali, Adil Rashid and Gareth Batty have a lot expected of them as Cook will need to use his seamers wisely in the sapping heat. The cushion of an extra 50 or so runs tomorrow morning would be a godsend.