Inclusion of experienced Litton Das a boost for Tigers as skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto weighs up options in Darwin
Bangladesh wicketkeeper Litton Das will play in the first Test against Australia in Darwin, his captain Najmul Hossain Shanto confirmed on Wednesday.
The fitness of Das has been a major concern for the Tigers who have relied on the 31-year-old’s steady presence behind the stumps and in the middle order for the last half-a-dozen years.
His absence in the tourists’ lineup was only amplified on Saturday when the Cricket Australia XI bowled them out for 54.
Das had a short bat in the nets and went through some keeping drills in the middle of Marrara Stadium on Wednesday, doing enough to get the green light from the medical staff with Shanto declaring him “100 per cent fit”.
Donning the gloves, he participated in slips practice, which also included skipper Shanto and openers Shadman Islam and Tanzid Hasan.
The right-handed Das, who will likely slot into No.5 or No.6, is Bangladesh’s leading Test run-scorer in the past five years.
While Shanto confirmed the inclusion of Das, he wouldn’t confirm the remainder of the XI, stating that they wouldn’t decide the makeup of their attack until the morning of the match.
Shanto and coach Phil Simmons had a long chat pitchside during the Tigers’ extended match-eve training session, casting an eye over the strip that boasts a healthy amount of green grass coverage.
“The surface looks good, I think we (might stick with our) normal combination, like two spinners and three seamers,” Shanto told a bustling press pack on Wednesday.
“But looking at the conditions, tomorrow we’ll have a chance to see it again, and then we’ll decide tomorrow according to the conditions.”
Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam bowled on back-to-back days in the nets after a bruised finger prohibited him from bowling in the tour match against the CA XI.
Taijul is the Tigers’ all-time leading wicket-taker with 270 wickets and is likely to line up alongside spinning allrounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
Taskin Ahmed will lead the pace attack and will be joined by two of Ebadot Hossain, Hasan Mahmud, Syed Khaled Ahmed and Musfik Hasan, should Bangladesh resist the urge that tempts many touring sides by picking four quicks.
Ebadot, 32, was enjoying paternity leave with his partner and newborn first child along the canals of Venice, Italy in late July, but injuries to fast bowlers Nahid Rana and Shoriful Islam forced the seamer into a tough decision.
He opted to cut short his time off and answer the visitors’ crisis call to strengthen the fast-bowling attack.
“Ebadot, he’s been outstanding before he got injured, and he’s coming back,” Shanto said.
“He’s been bowling well. If he gets the chance to play tomorrow, he will do something special for the team.”
The Tigers have received another boost with the news that left-arm quick Shoriful has been passed fit to join the squad in Mackay ahead of the second Test.
Shoriful didn’t make the initial touring party after a hamstring injury in Zimbabwe last month but will link up with the team in Queensland.
He took a six-wicket haul in the third ODI against Australia back in June.
NRMA Insurance Bangladesh Test series
First Test: August 13-17, Marrara Stadium, Darwin, 10am (local)
Second Test: August 22-26, Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay, 10am (local)
Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster
Bangladesh squad (first Test): Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (vc), Soumya Sarkar, Shadman Islam, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Amite Hasan, Jaker Ali, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury, Musfik Hasan
