Notes from (near) the Oval #5
Ooof!
Take a bow Bangladesh. If there was a team that was going to rudely interrupt New Zealand’s 17-match unbeaten run in tests at home it was always going to be Bangla… wait… what!?
Flabbergasted is not a word I have had cause to use many times of late, or ever for that matter, but there you go. Bangladesh were so good, so disciplined and so on point with everything they’ve done since midway through the second session on day one that you could be forgiven for thinking they were at home.
As a pace bowling trio, Ebadot Hossein, Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam have completely eclipsed New Zealand’s vaunted four-pronged attack. It has been a mismatch. The only visiting player whose contribution has been scant is their most accomplished player, Mushfiqur Rahim.
I could go on about how Bangladesh have not only outplayed their hosts but also out-thought them tactically but I know you’re not here for Banglalove so, deep breath… the Black Caps stunk. Let’s look at the reasons why and try to answer the question I’ve already had on multiple communication platforms: Is this the start of something bad?