England and Bangladesh 'resentment' that fuels World Cup showdown

Flashpoint: the umpires separate a furious Jos Buttler from the Bangladesh players in 2016
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Will Macpherson6 June 2019

If Bangladesh’s opening World Cup victory over South Africa and the mighty fright they gave New Zealand on Wednesday alerted many to the threat they pose England on Saturday, the tournament hosts were not among them.

New Zealand left The Oval with their second win, but who knows how close the two-wicket margin would have been if Bangladesh had taken two desperately tight run-out chances of key contributors Kane Williamson and Jimmy Neesham.

How could England not know of Bangladesh’s threat? They lost to them at the last two World Cups, with the 2015 defeat in Adelaide sealing their exit and triggering England’s white-ball revolution. And Bangladesh are better now: at the 2017 Champions Trophy they lost to hosts England but joined them in making it out of the group.

Before that, they took a game off England in a short, spicy series in 2016. After Bangladesh’s win, there were almost handbags over absent handshakes. Ben Stokes took exception to words fired Jason Roy’s way by Tamim Iqbal and stand-in skipper Jos Buttler objected to the send-off he received. England were incensed — although not as low as when they lost a Test to them three weeks later — and Bangladesh are said to still harbour resentment, too.

Bowler Mark Wood said this week that, as hosts and favourites, England have a “target on our back”. Perhaps no team will be more desperate to hit that target than Bangladesh, who are said to want to bowl first, having learned from the ease with which England chased their 305 at the Champions Trophy at this venue.

Facing Bangladesh in this World Cup has been similar to that Test in Dhaka in 2016 — indeed, when key Kiwi wickets fell, the Bangladesh fans’ decibel levels matched Mirpur. “There were times when I thought I was in Chittagong or Dhaka, it was amazing,” said New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor.

It should be no surprise: their fans bought around eight per cent of tickets for the World Cup, behind only England, India and Pakistan. They have an experienced, hardened team, too. Five players have more than 175 caps — all in their 30s and four are at their fourth World Cup — and at one stage all have played a defining hand in stinging England. They are a settled side, having used just 37 players since the last World Cup.

Bangladesh’s method is clear, and was executed to perfection against South Africa. While Soumya Sarkar throws the hands, Tamim awaits the bad ball. Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim build on those starts, before Mahmudullah leads the late-over tee-off.

With the ball, there is a flock of finger-spinners — who, fronted by Shakib, shared six New Zealand wickets, which will not have escaped England’s notice. Mystery comes from Mustafizur Rahman’s pace, and the sage seamer Mashrafe Mortaza steers the ship.

Most of all, they never know when they’re beaten. Their English coach, Steve Rhodes, spoke about the unity after the team were almost caught up in the Christchurch terror attack in March. “They’ve got some sort of brotherhood there now,” said Rhodes. “The experience they went through together, I think it somehow gelled them and that they have actually got solace from each other.”

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