“As we begin a new cycle, we know how important it is to win our home series and grab every available point. This is a great opportunity to start strong.”
The former Proteas pace ace boldly predicted that India’s upcoming five-Test series in England will be a result-heavy thriller, with the hosts edging it 3-2.
"It's very hard for the average cricket fan to understand who's the best team in the world and how exactly the top two teams make it to the final," said former England captain Michael Vaughan, now a television pundit.
If there were still doubters of Test cricket's enduring magic in the age of T20 fireworks, South Africa’s thrilling five-wicket victory over defending champions Australia offered the most poetic rebuttal.
"If you want to earn respect in world cricket all over, take up Test cricket, give your heart and soul to it, and earn the respect from legends."
“We're not trying to pick this team up any more. It's a matter of taking this team from a good team into being something English people are really proud of,” McCullum told the BBC Radio 5 Live Cricket show.
The hosts were left searching for answers after a dismal batting collapse saw them bowled out for 191 runs in the first innings -- a setback from which they never recovered.
The latest slip-up came courtesy of Zimbabwe, who secured a gripping three-wicket win in fading light -- an outcome that, in truth, should never have been on the cards.
Heavy rain and a storm hit Sylhet last night, leaving the outfield damp and unfit for play at the scheduled start time of 9:45 am.
Bangladesh are yet to win a Test against Pakistan. The Tigers have played 13 matches against Pakistan and have lost 12, managing to draw a solitary match at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna in 2015.
De Silva is skippering the tourists in their first red-ball campaign in England for eight years, with Sri Lanka heading into the first of a three-match contest at Old Trafford starting Wednesday on the back of a defeat by a novice England Lions team in their lone warm-up fixture.
"Bangladesh is a side that has quality players in all departments and we highly respect the challenges they bring as a side to us," said Shan Masood.
Set a challenging target of 263 after fast bowler Jayden Seales' Test-best figures of six for 61 dismissed the Proteas for 246 in their second innings in the morning session, the home team lost wickets at regular intervals to be dismissed for 222.
Set 82 to win, England finished on 87-0 in just 7.2 overs. Stokes -- opening in place of the injured Zak Crawley -- was 55 not out off a mere 28 balls as England completed a 3-0 series whitewash with more than two days to spare.
Set just 158 to win, Ireland slumped to 33-5 at the close of Saturday's third day, with Zimbabwe left-arm quick Richard Ngarava doing the bulk of the damage in a sensational burst of 4-12 in four overs.
Brook, whose 363 runs against Australia last year, helped draw the Ashes, said while he was glad to learn from Root, he was also determined to stay true to himself as well.
Pope was one of three century-makers for the hosts as England won the second Test against the West Indies at Trent Bridge by 241 runs, with Harry Brook and Joe Root following him to three figures in a series-clinching success.
BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury said: “We thank the PCB for confirming the schedule for Bangladesh's tour of Pakistan for the ICC World Test Championship matches. The series presents a significant test for us, but it is also a chance to showcase our progress in this format.”
The most successful fast bowler in the format's history, with 700 wickets, Anderson announced earlier this month that the first Test against the West Indies at Lord's in July would mark his farewell to England duty.
