Cricket
Bangladesh v England, 2nd Test, Dhaka: Preview

Will Tigers continue their resurgence at Dhaka?

Bayliss not keen on using four spinners for second Test; Sabbir undergoes endoscopy but is likely to be fit
Bangladesh's Mehedi Hasan (L) gestures after taking six wickets as the team walks back after England's first innings during the second day's play of the first Test cricket match between Bangladesh and England at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Cricket Stadium in Chittagong on October 21, 2016. File Photo: AFP

After winning the thrilling first Test in Chittagong by 22 runs earlier this week, England will be eager to extend its 100 percent record against Bangladesh when the teams face off again in Dhaka on Friday (October 28) for the second and final Test.

However, England's top order will be under pressure to deliver, aware their places could be up for grabs when the team moves on to India, according to the International Cricket Council's article.

Bangladesh's line-up will definitely see changes with Subashis Roy likely to be brought into the side after Shafiul Islam, the paceman, was rested.

Bangladesh has also called up Mosaddek Hossain as a back-up to Sabbir Rahman, who was suffering from a stomach problem after his valiant innings of 64 in the second innings of the first Test. 

Sabbir underwent an endoscopy on Wednesday, but it did not reveal any serious problem.

England's win in Chittagong was largely due to the batting heroics of the middle order, with Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes all playing crucial knocks to rescue the side after a top-order collapse,

The top four batsmen -- Alastair Cook, Ben Duckett, Joe Root and Gary Ballance  -- managed a combined total of just 96 runs in both innings. Their failures underlined how England has struggled to make solid starts of late.

Ballance has made just two half-centuries in his last 10 Tests, while Duckett has made scores of 14 and 15 on his debut in Chittagong. Even the usually prolific Cook and Root haven't fared well, with both men each having scored a solitary half-century in their last six innings.

Trevor Bayliss, the England coach, made clear he was expecting more from them while indicating that he will keep faith with them in Dhaka. "I don't think there's any reason to change the top six at this stage," said Bayliss. "The top four guys found it very difficult against the new ball facing the spinners on a wicket which sometimes bounced up around your shoulder and sometimes skidded straight through. I'm sure all the batters will be better for it."

Nasser Hussain, the former England captain, is among the voices calling for Ballance to make way, with the likes of big-hitting Jos Buttler and Haseeb Hameed, the teenage opener, waiting in the wings.

Both of them were named on Tuesday in the squad to play five Tests in India on a tour which begins immediately after the Bangladesh series.

Bayliss was also against the idea of using four spinners, something that would be a rare decision for England in a Test match. With thoughts already turning to the tour against India, England could also be tempted to hand a debut to Zafar Ansari, the left-arm spinner.

With Moeen's batting vital to the team, the veteran Gareth Batty is the most likely to miss out if England opt for Ansari. "There's always an opportunity (of using four spinners), I suppose," said Bayliss. "But it's a bit like playing five pace bowlers on a green seamer. If three or four can't do the job, well ..."

Squads (from):

Bangladesh: Mushfiqur Rahim (capt, wk), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque, Mahmudullah Riyad, Shakib Al Hasan, Shuvagata Hom, Sabbir Rahman, Mehedi Hasan, Mosaddek Hossain, Subashis Roy, Taijul Islam, Kamrul Islam, Nurul Hasan.

England: Alastair Cook (capt), Ben Duckett, Haseeb Hameed, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Jos Buttler, Gary Ballance, Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Zafar Ansari, Gareth Batty, Stuart Broad, Steven Finn, Jake Ball.

England's captain Alastair Cook (top 3rd L) celebrates with teammates after beating Bangladesh during the final day's play of the first Test cricket match at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Cricket Stadium in Chittagong on October 24, 2016. File Photo: AFP

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Bangladesh v England, 2nd Test, Dhaka: Preview

Will Tigers continue their resurgence at Dhaka?

Bayliss not keen on using four spinners for second Test; Sabbir undergoes endoscopy but is likely to be fit
Bangladesh's Mehedi Hasan (L) gestures after taking six wickets as the team walks back after England's first innings during the second day's play of the first Test cricket match between Bangladesh and England at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Cricket Stadium in Chittagong on October 21, 2016. File Photo: AFP

After winning the thrilling first Test in Chittagong by 22 runs earlier this week, England will be eager to extend its 100 percent record against Bangladesh when the teams face off again in Dhaka on Friday (October 28) for the second and final Test.

However, England's top order will be under pressure to deliver, aware their places could be up for grabs when the team moves on to India, according to the International Cricket Council's article.

Bangladesh's line-up will definitely see changes with Subashis Roy likely to be brought into the side after Shafiul Islam, the paceman, was rested.

Bangladesh has also called up Mosaddek Hossain as a back-up to Sabbir Rahman, who was suffering from a stomach problem after his valiant innings of 64 in the second innings of the first Test. 

Sabbir underwent an endoscopy on Wednesday, but it did not reveal any serious problem.

England's win in Chittagong was largely due to the batting heroics of the middle order, with Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes all playing crucial knocks to rescue the side after a top-order collapse,

The top four batsmen -- Alastair Cook, Ben Duckett, Joe Root and Gary Ballance  -- managed a combined total of just 96 runs in both innings. Their failures underlined how England has struggled to make solid starts of late.

Ballance has made just two half-centuries in his last 10 Tests, while Duckett has made scores of 14 and 15 on his debut in Chittagong. Even the usually prolific Cook and Root haven't fared well, with both men each having scored a solitary half-century in their last six innings.

Trevor Bayliss, the England coach, made clear he was expecting more from them while indicating that he will keep faith with them in Dhaka. "I don't think there's any reason to change the top six at this stage," said Bayliss. "The top four guys found it very difficult against the new ball facing the spinners on a wicket which sometimes bounced up around your shoulder and sometimes skidded straight through. I'm sure all the batters will be better for it."

Nasser Hussain, the former England captain, is among the voices calling for Ballance to make way, with the likes of big-hitting Jos Buttler and Haseeb Hameed, the teenage opener, waiting in the wings.

Both of them were named on Tuesday in the squad to play five Tests in India on a tour which begins immediately after the Bangladesh series.

Bayliss was also against the idea of using four spinners, something that would be a rare decision for England in a Test match. With thoughts already turning to the tour against India, England could also be tempted to hand a debut to Zafar Ansari, the left-arm spinner.

With Moeen's batting vital to the team, the veteran Gareth Batty is the most likely to miss out if England opt for Ansari. "There's always an opportunity (of using four spinners), I suppose," said Bayliss. "But it's a bit like playing five pace bowlers on a green seamer. If three or four can't do the job, well ..."

Squads (from):

Bangladesh: Mushfiqur Rahim (capt, wk), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque, Mahmudullah Riyad, Shakib Al Hasan, Shuvagata Hom, Sabbir Rahman, Mehedi Hasan, Mosaddek Hossain, Subashis Roy, Taijul Islam, Kamrul Islam, Nurul Hasan.

England: Alastair Cook (capt), Ben Duckett, Haseeb Hameed, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Jos Buttler, Gary Ballance, Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Zafar Ansari, Gareth Batty, Stuart Broad, Steven Finn, Jake Ball.

England's captain Alastair Cook (top 3rd L) celebrates with teammates after beating Bangladesh during the final day's play of the first Test cricket match at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Cricket Stadium in Chittagong on October 24, 2016. File Photo: AFP

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