New Zeland eye rankings rise with clean sweep

Christchurch: Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim, opener Imrul Kayes and No. 3 Mominul Haque ruled out of the second Test in Christchurch on Friday, denting the tourists' hopes of avoiding defeat in the two-Test series.

New Zealand will overtake Pakistan and move to fifth in the world Test team rankings should they complete a 2-0 Test sweep following their dramatic victory earlier this week in Wellington's first Test.

Rahim injury, which came with memories still fresh of Australian Phil Hughes being killed in Sydney just over two years ago, has again put the spotlight on the use of the short-pitched delivery as a fast-bowling tactic.

Mushfiqur's absence, in particular, will be a shock to the system: this will be the first time since June 2007 that he will not be a part of their batting order. In his absence, greater responsibility will fall on Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah.

Opinion is divided with two former New Zealand internationals, Warren Lees and Lance Cairns, joining the debate Wednesday on opposite sides.

Former wicketkeeper Lees said the use of the bouncer had gone too far and umpires needed to get tough.

Cairns, who suffered a fractured skull when felled by Pakistan quick bowler Wasim Akram in 1985, said short-pitched deliveries were part of a bowler's armoury.

While Bangladesh posted several batting records in the first Test, including the unwelcome title of scoring the highest first innings total of 595 in a losing effort, they have had little success in their first overseas tour in more than two years.

Captain Kane Williamson guided the side home in Wellington with an undefeated 104. His 15th century put him one behind Ross Taylor who in turn is one behind the New Zealand record of 17 held by the late Martin Crowe.

Coach Mike Hesson said the race between Williamson and Taylor to overtake Crowe can only be good for New Zealand.

New Zealand swept Bangladesh 3-0 in both the preceding one-day and Twenty20 series.

Teams from

New Zealand: Kane Williamson (Capt.), Jeet Raval, Tom Latham, Ross Taylor, Colin de Grandhomme, BJ Watling (wk), Matt Henry, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult, Dean Brownlie

Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal(Capt.), Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Mahmudullah, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Nurul Hasan (wk), Rubel Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Subashis Roy, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed

Stats and trivia

• Tamim Iqbal will become Bangladesh's ninth Test captain.
• Ross Taylor has the chance to equal Martin Crowe's record for most Test centuries by a New Zealander - 17.

Match facts
January 20-24, 2017
Start time 1100 local (2200 GMT -1d)