Bangladesh receives a shakib raise in the spin-friendly matchup against vigorous Sri Lanka.

Big picture: Sylhet wo n't at all be like Chattogram.

For the next Test set in a row between these groups, Sri Lanka's bowlers are defining the competition. In the Bangladesh two-match set in 2022, Asitha Fernando and Kasun Rajitha combined for 24 innings. Sri Lanka travel to Chattogram this time with their quicks after taking all 20 wickets in Sylhet, marking the first rate strike to do so since 1986.

Beyond the obvious benefit of the victory in Sylhet, Sri Lanka may benefit from having Kamindu Mendis, a lower-midfielder who has immediately found victory at the top, to strengthen their position.

It seems improbable, nevertheless, that the pitch in Chattogram does little resemble the damp seam- suitable surface that Sri Lanka stomped to a four- day victory on. Batters in Chattogram tend to be significantly better for bat, and it is the spinners who tend to live there. On that front, Bangladesh may think they have Sri Lanka covered.

They will gain the most confidence with Shakib Al Hasan's return from the eye problem that prevented him from leaving the tour so much. Shakib, who has taken 64 wickets in 19 Tests it, is among their best batters, which is the most for any spinner at this place. Taijul Islam, who has the second-highest Chattogram innings total, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who leads with 34, are also with him.

Sri Lanka's major spin Prabath Jayasuriya, however, will be playing just his fourth Test abroad, and has four profession wickets away from home. Offspin- ball allrounder Ramesh Mendis, who is the likeliest to appear in to the XI if Sri Lanka opt for a minute frontline spin option, is even more untrained outside, having played only two away from home.

Sri Lanka have not lost a Evaluation in Bangladesh, and such was the margin of victory in Sylhet that they will start the next Exam with some confidence. Bangladesh may think of the activity in Sylhet as something of an aberration, yet. In Chattogram, with Shakib in their ranks, they did sense- and be, probably- a diverse team fully.

Type manual

( Completed matches, most recent first )
Sri Lanka WWLLW
Bangladesh LLWWW

In the spotlight- Shakib Al Hasan and Kamindu Mendis

Naturally, Shakib Al Hasan is a popular choice wherever he goes, but the recently elected representative from the Magura district may be worth watching out for in this match. His second match against Sri Lanka since he appealed for and received a timed-out dismissal against Angelo Mathews in the ODI World Cup is not only his second worldwide as an MP. Through the duration of the limited-overs set, Matthews criticized Shakib and Bangladesh for making that charm. If Shakib sees value in pushing Sri Lanka's keys repeatedly, it seems implausible that his new position in Bangladesh's government will prevent him from stirring more discussion.

Three Test pitches into his vocation, Kamindu Mendis has scores of 64, 102, and 164. Though he burst into the international cricket awareness as a fingerspinner who could work with either shoulder, his bowling has always been his main fit. And he has evidently improved his batting since making his debut for Sri Lanka in 2018 with a particular focus on handling the moving game, which he appreciated on Sylhet's spicy deck. As opponents study his game and develop strategies to exploit his flaws, he may take more tests. However, in the middle of a Test time that is reportedly quite active, he seems determined to maintain that position.

Ball and problems

Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium has Bangladesh's best batting ball. Batting first, factors have averaged 380 in the last five Testing around. The weather is likely to be comfortable, with the strange possibility of a bathtub on time one and five.

Team media

Shakib will probably replace Shahadat Hossain in Bangladesh's XI. Nahid Rana's speed is interesting, but Bangladesh will take into account whether he will be successful on Chattogram's typically calm surface. They might choose Hasan Mahmud.

Bangladesh ( possible ): 1 Mahmudul Hasan Joy, 2 Zakir Hasan, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto ( capt ), 4 Mominul Haque, 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Litton Das (wk ), 7 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 8 Taijul Islam, 9 Shoriful Islam, 10 Khaled Ahmed, 11 Nahid Rana/Hasan Mahmud

With Rajitha out with a rear injury, Sri Lanka will probably bring Asitha directly into the XI, partnering him with kept- arm fast Vishwa Fernando. If one of the seamers from Sylhet has to miss out, Lahiru Kumara is the likeliest to be omitted in favour of another spinner.

Sri Lanka ( possible ): 1 Dimuth Karuanaratne, 2 Nishan Madushka, 3 Kusal Mendis (wk ), 4 Angelo Mathews, 5 Dinesh Chandimal, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva ( capt ), 7 Kamindu Mendis, 8 Ramesh Mendis, 9 Prabath Jayasuriya, 10 Asitha Fernando, 11 Vishwa Fernando

Stats and trivia

The three most recent Tests between these teams in Chattogram have all ended in draws Asitha claimed 13 wickets at an average of 16.61 on his last trip to Bangladesh, though his figures in Chattogram were 3 for 72 Following his 87 not out on day four of the first Test, Mominul Haque needs 25 to complete 4000 career Test runs. He will be the fourth Bangladesh batter to the milestone- behind Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal and Shakib- if and when he gets there

Quotes- everyone's talking about Shakib

" It looks like he has lost weight. He's been training. He has had a good BPL. The Dhaka Premier League has a good start for him. He's happy and that's the only place we want Shakib. We want him happy".
Nic Pothas, standing in as head coach for Chandika Hathurusinghe, on Shakib's return to the Test side

Why ought I to discuss him? He's not in my team".
When asked to comment on Shakib, Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva responded.