'The toughest Bangladesh team that we’ve come up against': South Africa players full of praise ahead of Tests
Bangladesh arrive in South Africa with a record of eight defeats in eight Tests there, but the hosts are treating them with caution. Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj and Aiden Markram have all spoken of a stronger, more rounded side, with Harmer calling them the toughest Bangladesh team the Proteas have faced.
The three players made their remarks in a promotional video posted by SuperSport TV on Thursday. The first Test begins at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on November 15, with the second in Centurion from November 23.
Harmer, one of South Africa’s two spinners in the squad alongside Maharaj, was the most forthright of the three, warning that this Bangladesh side has come a long way and should not be judged by old results.
“I think that they’ve improved a hell of a lot. They’ve got some bowlers who can bowl serious heat. They’ve got good spinners, and they’ve got good batters. So it’s gonna be a serious test. I think it’s gonna be the toughest Bangladesh team that we’ve come up against, and I can tell you for sure that we won’t be taking them lightly, because we know what they bring to the table.”
Maharaj started by crediting Bangladesh’s recent form and the depth they now have in pace, batting and spin.
“Look, Bangladesh have done really well. They’ve always been a team that competed in the white-ball format and now they’ve shown, coming back off a sort of series draw in Australia, which hasn’t been done for them for a long period of time. They’ve got some really good fast bowlers, some youngsters coming through. Obviously they’ve found some nice balance with the bat and they have some world-class spinners.”
He then widened the point to the whole World Test Championship cycle, where every point counts and no opponent can be treated as a formality.
“So it’s not a team that we can take lightly. I don’t think any team in this WTC cycle can be taken lightly, considering that there’s a lot of points and percentage points up for grabs. They’re a team that’s obviously on the transition. They’re playing a lot of cricket, I know that, prior to coming to South Africa, so it’s a good curtain-raiser for them.”
Top-order batter Markram looked at the visitors from a batter’s side, noting how they have grown beyond their reputation for playing spin well, and pointed to their showing in Australia as proof.
“Naturally always been good players of spin and got good spinners in their bowling attack. And they’re proving now they’ve got the batters that can handle pace and bounce. And they’ve got a really good bowling attack that can bowl quick and hit good areas in pace-friendly conditions. So a much more well-rounded team, I feel, and the proof was in Australia, what they did there. I’ve got no doubt at all that they’re gonna come here with the same intention, and we need to be 200% up for that and expect a really tough series.”
Captain Temba Bavuma had set the same tone earlier. He told Sun Sports that the highveld pitches in Johannesburg and Centurion will suit Bangladesh’s pace bowlers, and that the hosts must leave nothing to chance, mentally or in preparation. He stressed that South Africa are not taking the visitors lightly.
Conditions will test the tourists. Wanderers curator Brendon Frost wants pace and bounce that lasts all five days, and South Africa have recalled Tony de Zorzi and Zubayr Hamza to strengthen their batting. The hosts are the number one Test team and beat Australia 2-1, with Bavuma scoring a career-best 179.
Bangladesh’s record against South Africa reads 14 defeats and two draws from 16 Tests, and both draws in 2015 owed more to rain than to cricket. They also lost both Tests on their last tour in 2022.
The tourists arrive with experience and spin, led by Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Towhid Hridoy comes in after his unbeaten 242 in Sylhet, while Nahid Rana is unavailable for the pace attack.
The top order is the main concern, with Naeem Sheikh back after four years and Mahfizul Islam Robin awaiting his debut. A green pitch could still help Bangladesh’s fast bowlers if they make an impact in the first hour.