It takes about 20 minutes by car from downtown Durban to reach Chatsworth Cricket Oval. There is nothing extravagant in the club field built by cutting the hill. For an ideal cricket field, it is arranged with all the basic materials. However, the velvet green carpet, good wickets and drainage facilities will set Chatsworth Cricket Oval apart from all other fields.
The Bangladesh team has started the Test practice session by paying homage to the heroic martyrs on Independence Day on Saturday. However, due to rain, it was not possible to practise all day as planned. It is not uncommon for rain to come and go in overseas cities. Durban was drenched in rain almost all day on Saturday.
The practice at the Chatsworth Cricket Oval on Saturday and Sunday is basically looking at the match situation. In the practice of mid-wicket, the batsmen have teamed up and batted in a match-like fielding. Those who have been batting or those who did not have to bat on Sunday, have gone and practiced in the side net.
The cricketers have not yet seen the wicket of Kingsmead, the venue of the first Test in Durban. There is no point in looking at the wicket so long before the match. Even then, pace bowling coach Alan Donald once visited Kingsmead and told the team that he had seen the wicket a little greener.
The Bangladesh team, however, is not too worried about that. In the words of team director Khaled Mahmood, it is clear, "They can give bounce and pace support wickets against us.
We are ready to deal with it. What is a problem for us is a problem for them too. Because, we also have bowlers who can bowl at a speed of 140 kmph. '
Among the fast bowlers, Ebadot Hossain will have extra expectations.
Even the hero of the Mount Manganui Test victory seems to be ready to meet that expectation, ‘Fast bowlers are all trying to figure out how to improve their bowling. We are doing well outside the country now. Everyone's confidence in us is boosting our confidence. '
