Bangladesh, WI look to get their floundering campaigns back on track

Is it too early to start calling matches in this World Cup must-win? After all, we are only just over halfway through the group stages.
Including the match at Taunton today, Bangladesh and West Indies each have five matches still to be played; yet, the meeting between these two teams at the County Ground feels significant. It is a match that neither team would want to lose. Indeed, neither can afford to lose, because of the blow it would inflict on their semi-final hopes.
It is a probable must-win
match for both teams.
Probably because there still is time to make up for a loss, with four victories still to play for after this game. But with England, India, Australia and New Zealand beginning to create a gap at the top of the group, and both West Indies and Bangladesh having already lost two games and suffered a washout apiece, a defeat here would mean they face the prospect of sudden death cricket, with another defeat likely to be terminal. And with both teams having to play India, Bangladesh set to face Australia and West Indies still having to play New Zealand, going on an unbeaten run will be no easy task.
After bright beginnings which raised the prospect of semi-final berths, both sides have since rather disappointed, albeit against some of the better teams in the tournament. After beating South Africa first up, Bangladesh pushed New Zealand close in defeat, but were then pumped by England before a washout against Sri Lanka in Bristol.
West Indies destroyed Pakistan in their opening game, but then lost to Australia, had a washout against South Africa, and were then pulverised by England in Southampton on Friday.
For both sides, expectations have been dampened since those opening game wins.
Nevertheless, after nine games against West Indies in the past 12 months, seven of which they have won, Bangladesh will not lack for confidence. The last three of those victories were achieved in the Tri-Series before the World Cup, also involving Ireland.
These are good recent memories to draw on, but the West Indies were then without Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran and Andre Russell, who were at the IPL. These three players would add a significant amount to any team, and they have shown glimpses of their best form in this tournament.
Bangladesh’s captain, Mushrafe Mortaza, who has come in for some criticism for his returns with the ball so far in this tournament, will hope to continue his good recent returns against West Indies. In those last nine games, Mortaza took 19 wickets at an average of a tick more than 20.
Tamim Iqbal, another one who has had a slow start to the World Cup, scored two hundreds and four half-centuries in those matches. Good recent memories might help something click for both Mortaza and Tamim, two proven players whom Bangladesh need to fire if they are to challenge for a semi-final spot.
What to expect: After last week’s horrendous wet weather, things are supposed to be picking up in the next few days. The forecast for Taunton is set to be dry, although expecting to see some sun might be pushing it. The surface, as it was for the previous two matches at the ground, is expected to offer something for the faster men, but the short boundaries will still encourage the batsmen.
Mushfiqur Rahim suffered a blow in the nets while batting on Saturday, but an X-ray showed no fracture, so he is expected to play. If he doesn’t, Liton Das will keep-wicket. According to bowling coach Courtney Walsh, fast-bowler Rubel Hossain has been trucking well in the nets, and could come into contention, given the expected surface in Taunton. That could mean Mehidy Hasan missing out.
Possible XI: Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Shakib Al Hasan, Musfhiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mithun. Mahmudullah, Mosaddek Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Rubel Hossain, Mushrafe Mortaza, Mustafizur Rahman.
Throughout the tournament, Andre Russell’s knees have been a constant cause of concern for West Indies, and it will be touch-and-go in regard to whether he is fit enough to play. Given the importance of the game, everything that can be done will be done to get him on the pitch, but he may not get through that much bowling.
Ashley Nurse, left out of the game against England, could come back into contention, perhaps for Shannon Gabriel.
Possible XI: Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Shai Hope, Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Andre Russell, Jason Holder, Carlos Brathwaite, Ashley Nurse, Sheldon Cottrell, Oshane Thomas.
Shai Hope averages a dizzying 94.57 against Bangladesh in ODIs. He has three hundreds and three fifties in nine ODIs, aggregating a total of 662 runs.
Bangladesh’s spinners have taken 10 wickets in the World Cup so far, the most by any team; while West Indies’ spinners have claimed none.