‘Not just us who struggle abroad’

Bangladesh coach Steve Rhodes said that the team needs to do better in order to do well in overseas conditions and take Test matches to the fifth day. However, he was of the opinion that other teams also struggle in overseas Tests and that there are teams who have the same dilemma of thinking of ways to win in Bangladesh.

Twin tons from openers Tom Latham and Jeet Raval followed by Kane Williamson's unbeaten 93 on Day 2 put New Zealand firmly on top in the first Test with Tigers running the risk of losing the Test well ahead of the fifth day, after toiling on the field the whole day today. The team has struggled in alien conditions in all recent overseas Test series and this one is not proving to be any different.

"Our batsmen have to cope with the short ball but Tamim [Iqbal's] hundred proved what's possible. We can take games into the fifth day but we've got to do better.

"I think a lot of teams go to Bangladesh and are scratching their heads trying to work out ways to win in Bangladesh. So it's not just us who go abroad and struggle. We have a formula that works at home and people are trying to crack that as well," Rhodes opined.

On being able to survive through Test matches and fight it out till the last day, Rhodes opined that the bowlers showed some promise despite a hard day's toil and it was a big learning curve for Bangladesh cricket to do well in overseas Tests.

"I think we definitely can. It will be tough. It think learning to play abroad, it's a big thing for Bangladesh. It think we are understanding that. Today, even though we did not get the wickets, we've shown that there we've got a little bit of pace in there now. A little bit of heat in the wicket."