Bangladesh v West Indies tips & prediction; 1st Test Preview

A full-strength Bangladesh will welcome back their best player to red-ball cricket when they host a weakened, but dangerous West Indies in Chattogram for the first Test on Wednesday.

Shakib Al Hasan, the former world number one all-rounder, has returned from a 12-month anti-corruption related suspension, conveniently served during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

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With Al Hassan in the middle order on his home deck, Bangladesh are an overwhelming $1.22 favourite with betway.com.

The reason the hosts are so short in the betting is because the West Indies ($7 at betway) hopped on a plane without a plethora of their best players.

Absent from the Windies team is captain Jason Holder, vice-captain Roston Chase and other first team veterans including Darren Bravo, Shane Dowrich and Shimron Hetmyer – all deciding not to travel because of health and safety fears.

While the men from the Caribbean look incredibly vulnerable with the bat, their bowling remains at full strength and should maintain the tourists’ competitiveness in this two-game series.

While the Windies played five Test matches during 2020, Bangladesh didn’t play one. Will a lack of recent experience hurt the hosts, or will it be a mauling as the odds suggest?

Bangladesh v West Indies Test Series schedule

February 3-7: 1st Test, Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram, 11am local time
February 11-15: 2nd Test, Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka, 11am local time

West Indies squad

Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, John Campbell, Rahkeem Cornwall, Josh Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Kavem Hodge, Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Raymon Reifer, Veersammy Permail, Shayne Moseley, Kyle Mayers, Jomel Warrican.



Bangladesh squad

Mominul Haque (c), Abu Jayed, Ebadot Hossain, Liton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Moahammad Mithun, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mustafizur Rahman, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Nayeem Hasan, Saif Hassan, Shadman Islam, Shakib Al Hasan, Taijul Islam, Tamim Iqbal, Taskin Ahmed, Yasir Ali.

Bangladesh v West Indies betting tips

Our cricket betting expert has cast his eye over the markets and found several value Bangladesh v West Indies tips.

Bangladesh vs West Indies 1st Test match prediction 3/2/2021

While the bowling will remain reasonably even, the Windies’ inexperience with the bat and complete ineptitude against spin make a Bangladesh win the only match tip we can provide here. Should Windies’ captain Kraigg Brathwaite make some runs the Windies could provide a slither of hope at a juicy $7 with leading international betting sites, but it’s highly unlikely.

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