‘Bangladesh are now a good Test team’

England will play two Tests on their tour of Bangladesh next February. England’s selectors have already started thinking about that series. National Selector of England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Marcus North believes that England’s current balance will be challenged on that tour.

But their thinking is different about the Bangladesh tour. The ECB has already started investing more in the spin programme. North said the recent appointment of Richard Dawson will not only be an Assistant Coach to Stephen Fleming, but will also help England cricket team’s spin bowling.

North said, “They (Bangladesh) are a good cricket team now, and a good Test team.” He added, “It’s not like we’re just going to go there and face some good spinners.

They’ve got some very good pacers, we know it’s going to be a very good Test. We need a squad that have all the options we need in those conditions.”

Bashir has also recently been signed on a central contract by Rehan Ahmed. North said that this makes it unlikely that Jack Leach, who will play his 39th Test in Pakistan in 2024, will return to the Bangladesh tour. With that, it is safe to say that the spinner’s England career is over! Even though he has been in excellent form in the County Championship Division One in the last two seasons, taking 88 wickets!