The Men’s International Test Match Series resumes with a historic and intriguing contest as Bangladesh host Ireland at the iconic Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur from 19 November. Play is scheduled to begin at 03:30 UK, which converts to a morning start of 09:00 IST. With valuable Test ranking points on the line and both sides aiming to strengthen their red-ball credentials, this match promises a blend of attritional batting, tactical bowling rotations, and intense sessions characteristic of subcontinental Test cricket.
Form Guide
Bangladesh
Bangladesh enter the series as firm favourites on home soil. Their Test side has matured significantly over recent years, especially in familiar conditions where their spinners dominate and their batters understand the tempo required to build long innings. Mirpur’s turning surfaces and low bounce tend to suit their strengths perfectly as they look to assert control from day one.
- Spinners consistently dictate play at home, especially from days two and three.
- Top order showing greater discipline and improved first-innings conversion rates.
- All-rounders provide vital balance, contributing across key phases.
Ireland
Ireland continue to grow in the Test arena, displaying admirable resilience despite limited red-ball exposure. Their strength lies in disciplined seam bowling and patient batting built around compact techniques. However, adapting to subcontinental spin remains their biggest challenge, and their ability to negotiate long spells will be pivotal to staying competitive across the five days.
- Seamers effective with the new ball and capable of sustained accuracy.
- Middle order showing improved temperament in recent Test outings.
- Spin department inexperienced but developing variations for Asian conditions.
Key Players
Bangladesh
- Shakib Al Hasan – The heartbeat of Bangladesh cricket; world-class all-rounder offering control with the ball and authority with the bat.
- Mushfiqur Rahim – Veteran keeper-batter renowned for grit and game management in pressure situations.
- Taijul Islam – Expert left-arm spinner who thrives on Mirpur’s slow, turning surfaces and consistently picks up key wickets.
Ireland
- Andrew Balbirnie – Dependable top-order batter whose technique and shot selection will be vital against spin.
- Mark Adair – Reliable seamer who can generate movement and extract reverse swing later in the innings.
- Harry Tector – Talented middle-order batter with temperament suited to long-format challenges.
Pitch and Weather Conditions
Shere Bangla National Stadium is notorious for slow, turning pitches that steadily deteriorate across the match. Expect low bounce and sharp turn from late day two onwards, making batting progressively harder. Seamers gain some early swing and reverse later in the innings, but spinners remain the dominant force. Weather in Mirpur is forecast to be warm and dry around 29–30°C with little threat of rain, ensuring full days of play. A first-innings total of 300–330 should be considered competitive, with batting becoming significantly tougher thereafter.
Bangladesh vs Ireland – Prediction
Bangladesh hold a decisive advantage thanks to their experience, home conditions, and superior spin attack. If Shakib Al Hasan and Taijul Islam find rhythm early, Ireland’s batters will face a stern examination. For the visitors, much depends on Andrew Balbirnie anchoring the innings and Mark Adair making inroads with the new ball. While Ireland possess the fight to challenge in patches, Bangladesh’s depth and familiarity with Mirpur’s conditions should secure a comfortable victory—likely within four days.
Dream 11 Fantasy Picks
- Shakib Al Hasan – Elite all-rounder offering maximum value with wickets, runs, and reliability across sessions.
- Andrew Balbirnie – Ireland’s most composed Test batter; key for stability and fantasy consistency.
- Taijul Islam – Proven Mirpur specialist expected to dominate with long, incisive spells.
