LONDON, (Reuters) – Tamim Iqbal gave Bangladesh a glimmer of hope for the first test against England starting at Lord’s today by promising to take his place at the top of the order despite a painful wrist injury.
The dashing left-hand opener has been told he can play with his left wrist taped, although he may eventually need surgery.
“I don’t want to take any chances but I’m batting okay in the nets and the pain is getting better day by day,” he told reporters.
Tamim, who scored three fluent half-centuries during the two-test home series against England this year, is one of Bangladesh’s two world-class players.
The other is captain and all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who expects to play despite contracting chicken pox.
Cooler weather and showers predicted for the weekend after a brief burst of searingly hot weather in south-east England will also create the usual problems for visiting teams at the start of the English summer with assistance for the home bowlers.
England have rested their Twenty20 captain Paul Collingwood and all-rounder Stuart Broad at the start of a hectic season, giving an opportunity to Eoin Morgan to show he can take his one-day form into the test arena.
Morgan does not have a great first-class record but the England management are impressed with his temperament under pressure and the Bangladesh attack provides as gentle an introduction to test cricket as anyone could wish.
England begin the home season buoyed by their win in the Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean and with an Ashes defence against losing finalists Australia to look forward to at the end of the year.
TURBULENT
PAKISTAN
After the two-test Bangladesh series they play four tests against Pakistan, who are condemned to play their international cricket abroad because of the uncertain security situation at home.
Pakistan also play two tests against Australia and for the first time since the rain-drenched 1912 Triangular series between England, Australia and South Africa, Lord’s will stage three tests.
