Simmons expects a good batting wicket in Mirpur Test

Bangla Press Desk:   Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons said on Tuesday that he is expecting a good batting wicket in the second and last Test of the two-match series against Ireland starting from Wednesday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.

“Look, the wicket, it looks different to West Indies ODI wickets. The wicket looks fairly good. Um, tomorrow morning when we come, we can't show, they're going to do some more rolling today and thing,” Simmons said at the pre-match press conference.

The pitch at Mirpur has been under intense scrutiny throughout the year, drawing criticism from visiting teams like Pakistan, West Indies and experts alike.

With Ireland arriving at Mirpur fresh off a livelier pitch in Sylhet, many expected another spin-friendly wicket that would heavily favour the home side’s strengths.

The visitors would almost certainly have prepared for that challenge in advance. However, early indications point to a different narrative altogether.

A fresh layer of green grass spread generously across the central square of the Mirpur pitch signals a pitch that may offer considerably more assistance to the fast bowlers than previously expected.

“Tomorrow morning when we come, we will see how it is, but it looks good and it looks like it could be good for batting at least first two, maybe two and a half days. So that’s all you ask for in a Test match wicket, to be good enough and third and fourth day, we see what happens,” Simmons concluded.

BP/SP