🏏Cricket World Cup 2023: Match #11: New Zealand vs Bangladesh 🏏

🏏Cricket World Cup 2023: Match #11: New Zealand vs Bangladesh at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on 13 October 2023 at 2:00 PM IST 🏏

NZ look to make it 3/3 in Chennai amid their captain's big return

Bangladesh meanwhile will need to change their tactics as they look to recover from their heavy defeat against England

The New Zealand juggernaut rolled into Chennai but in typical Kiwi fashion, it was a quiet entrance. New Zealand comfortably knocked over England and Netherlands, and will now take on a Bangladesh side smarting from a big loss against England. The only saving grace for Bangladesh is a Chennai pitch that is likely to help the spinners, but many of the New Zealand players have IPL experience to count on, so they will know what to expect at this venue.

The big news for New Zealand is the return of their regular captain, Kane Williamson, who is returning after a seven-month injury break. There was a time this year when it looked unlikely that Williamson will play the World Cup but a proper recovery now means that he can make a smooth return to the line-up, with his side already having four points on the board.

New Zealand have a number of standout performers from these matches, particularly Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway, who made superb hundreds against England. Will Young and Tom Latham made important runs against the Netherlands while Mitchell Santner had a great all-round showing too.

They have other aces up their sleeves against Bangladesh. Ish Sodhi could enter the playing XI on the back of his six-wicket haul against Bangladesh a couple of weeks back in Dhaka. In any case, both sides will be looking at their spin stocks.

Bangladesh's big defeat against England undid a lot of their good work against Afghanistan in the first match. The pitch certainly differed between the two games in Dharamsala, but Bangladesh didn't really adapt to the conditions. Their insistence on bowling outside off stump hurt them as they went wicketless going for that bowling line. Taskin Ahmed bowling just six overs, Shakib Al Hasan finishing his ten early and the overuse of offspin against left-handers were the sort of rigid tactics that Bangladesh will not want to repeat.

They also have to sort out their batting line-up, and specifically answer questions about the opening pair and the lower middle order. Tanzid Hasan hasn't made runs in the two innings so far, but it is still a small sample size to judge a new opener. Still, a World Cup campaign has its own challenges for Bangladesh so it won't be a huge surprise if they send Mehidy Hasan Miraz to open with Litton Das. In that case, Mahmudullah and Nasum Ahmed are candidates to return in the lower middle-order. Left-arm spinner Nasum would ensure more depth in the spin department while Mahmudullah can add batting experience on a tricky Chepauk pitch.

Bangladesh have great memories against New Zealand in subcontinent conditions, having beaten them 4-0 and 3-0 at home in the last 13 years. But on current form and especially in the World Cup, New Zealand are favourites.

Tag Credit: Sutapasima

New Zealand vs Bangladesh Pitch Report

A spin-friendly surface could be on offer for the match between New Zealand and Bangladesh. The conditions in Chennai generally help the batters and the slower bowlers. It should not be surprising if spinners and batters have a good day in the office today.

New Zealand vs Bangladesh Weather Forecast

The skies in Chennai should be clear with periodic clouds during the match time. Rain might interrupt the proceedings as there is a 5% chance of rainfall in the evening. However, it should not have a major impact on the match.

Pitch and conditions: Spin to win in Chepauk

India's spin trio took 6 for 104 against Australia in the previous match at Chepauk. Both sides will look to mount a spin attack regardless of when they bat in this game. India showed the ease of chase against Australia but teams have to be careful of bowlers who can move the ball. The weather is likely to be mostly dry, with a low chance of rain.

Snatch a glimpse and the MA Chidambaram Stadium feels quite the contemporary setting for cricket. Tall stands, bucket seats, LED floodlights, a large playing square, a lush outfield and a drainage system that can stand its ground. It's only when you step away from cricket here that the place reveals itself for what it is: an old soul trying to pass off as a hipster. For, a narrow two-lane road from the Marina Beach leads you to the venue; cement-plastered stairs usher you down and into the stadium; and a small place of worship greets you inside as you make your way to the stands. It's this bit of old-fashion that makes the place special, and it's this bit of old-fashion that the teams will need come the World Cup fixture on Friday.

Both Bangladesh and New Zealand will know what to expect. It's Chennai after all. It will be hot and it will spin. Just how much is usually the answer you seek when you tune into a match here. But if it spins anything like the last game here, Bangladesh will look at it as reparations for all the previous World Cup grounds they have played New Zealand at. Just look at the venues: Chelmsford, Kimberley, Antigua, Hamilton and London. You don't need to look at the scorecards to know that the ball didn't spin a mile in any of those games, and that it might spin more than all of them combined this time around.

New Zealand will be glad that Kane Williamson is match-fit when he is. The soft hands, the rotation of strike, the finesse that he brings to the table, especially against spin, could come in handy here. There's also the white-ball experience of Trent Boult and Tim Southee here to go with that of Mitchell Santner and Devon Conway, who by virtue of their IPL contracts call this very venue their "home".

Weight it all up and it feels as if New Zealand walk into the contest knowing the venue better, but Bangladesh, being where they are from, come in with greater familiarity with the conditions. It's all set up for a fascinating context, with the fixture promising to be a crucial turning point in both campaigns.

Bangladesh know that this World Cup in India is their best ever shot at that elusive semifinal berth, and that this game here in Chennai could be the perfect stepping stone towards that. New Zealand, on the other hand, are coming off two wins in two games without so much as needing a full-strength squad, and how they respond to Chepauk's more alien playing conditions in back-to-back matches against hyperlocal teams could have a knock-on effect on the rest of their campaign.

In the spotlight

What would Williamson's return mean for Rachin Ravindra? Not much, it is hoped. Ravindra's great form with bat and usefulness with the ball makes him an automatic pick against Bangladesh. Ravindra made a monumental century in the World Cup opener against England, before following it up with a fifty against Netherlands. His intent suited New Zealand's plans, as he played a variety of shots while keeping shape. Williamson confirmed in the pre-match press conference that Ravindra is part of their plans but it is unlikely that he will bat at No. 3.

Litton Das' sparkling 76 was the only positive for Bangladesh in their big defeat to England in Dharamshala. It included the usual Litton fare of beautifully timed shots and angled-bat shots that many batters dream to play. But frustratingly it is this free-flowing shot-making that often ends his innings prematurely. Litton's ODI form this year pales in comparison to last year's 52.45 average in 13 innings. Bangladesh will gain greatly from his form if Litton kicks on from his half-century against England

Probable Best Performers

Probable Best Batter:

Devon Conway (New Zealand)

New Zealand’s opener Devon Conway could be the best batter for the Black Caps in the side’s upcoming clash against Bangladesh. Scoring the first century of the ODI World Cup 2023, Conway has been in sensational form as of late, and his knock could once again come in handy when New Zealand take on Bangladesh.

Probable Best Bowler:

Shoriful Islam (Bangladesh)

Bangladesh’s Shoriful Islam could be the best bowler for his side in their next game of the tournament. Shoriful has been in commendable form of late, taking 14 wickets in his last seven games, and with impactful performances in the World Cup as well, many eyes will be set on the bowler.

Team Watch:

New Zealand

Kane Williamson will be back to lead the side after six months on the sidelines. Tim Southee won't be playing, Kane confirmed but assured that Rachin Ravindra will "absolutely be involved" after significant contributions in the first two matches. Kane's return could mean that Mark Chapman gets the axe in order to accommodate both Will Young and Rachin Ravindra in the side.

Tactics & Strategy:

Whether to play Ish Sodhi or not, that's the big question. The legspinner recently picked a six-wicket haul against Bangladesh in Mirpur and what role that will play in propping up his chances is anybody's guess. What's true though is that outside of what were his best ODI figures, he doesn't have much going for him in what's anyway not been a legspinner's World Cup so far.

Probable XI: Devon Conway, Will Young, Kane Williamson (c), Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham(w), Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson/Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult

Bangladesh

There could be a toss up between Tanzid Hasan and Mahmudullah, with the latter coming into the fray to add more experience to the batting. Nasum Ahmed, the left-arm orthodox, could come into the side considering four of the top-six batters could be right-handed.

Tactics & Strategy

Bangladesh have lost ten ODIs this year, and they were bowled out for under 240 in all those defeats. A lot of that is down to the failures of the opening combinations, seven pairs of which have been tried in the last 15 ODIs. No wonder the last five opening stands for Bangladesh read 13(13), 19(36), 6(9), 19(25) and 14(10), and it is definitely something that the side would want to take a hard look at.

Probable XI: Tanzid Hasan/Mahmudullah, Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mushfiqur Rahim (w), Towhid Hridoy, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman

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Stats and trivia:

• NZ hold World Cup edge over Bangladesh
• New Zealand snapped Bangladesh's long-standing home winning streak in ODIs over them last month when the visitors won 2-0 in Dhaka. Bangladesh have never defeated New Zealand in five matches in the World Cup.
• Mahedi Hasan's 4 for 71 in the previous game is the most expensive four-wicket (or more) haul by a Bangladeshi spinner in ODIs.
• New Zealand have a chance to win their first three matches of a World Cup for the third consecutive edition, having done it in 2019 and 2015 previously. They had also had similar runs in the 1992 and 2007 editions.

When: New Zealand vs Bangladesh, 13 October 2023 at 02:00 PM Local

Where: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

What to expect: Feels-like temperature of 38 degrees. It could be a familiar start to the match, with those in attendance camouflaging in the shades and making the stadium look emptyish. But as it has been the case so far, expect the crowds to swell in the evening for what could be a tight contest on the cards.

In the two ODIs at Chepauk this year, spinners have taken 17 wickets at an average of 24.88 and an economy-rate of 4.50.

For this game, the groundmen have prepared Pitch No. 4, which is a mix of black and red soil. It was watered and rolled many times over on the eve of the match, so don't expect the top surface to give away as soon as it did in the India-Australia game. This pitch could be harder and firmer, allowing batters to play their shots as well as the spinners to turn the ball.

Did you know

- Shakib, who scored 600+ runs in World Cup 2019, has not scored a century in ODIs since then.

- Williamson was Player of the Tournament in 2019 but has featured only in 12 ODIs since.

- Bangladesh is the only side in the competition without a wrist spinner in their squad