Germany’s Patrick Franziska with Benedikt Duda have reached the semi-finals of the ITTF World Tour Hungarian Open, as they defeated Brazilians Vitor Ishiy and Eric Jouti in impressive straight games win (11-6, 11-6, 11-5).
The news of the session, however, was the progression of India’s Sharath Kamal Achanta with Sathiyan Gnanasekaran into the final four, as they steamed on against the home favorites Nandor Ecseki with Adam Szudi in a brilliant 3-0 (11-8, 11-7, 11-8) win.
Lee/Doo pick up where they left off
Day two of the main event here in Budapest has kicked off with some great news for the Hong Kong China fans. Picking up from where they left off yesterday, Doo Hoi Kem with Lee Ho Ching were quick to settle their nerves against the mixed duo of England’s Ho Tin-Tin with Austria’s Karoline Mischek, winning 3-1 (4-11, 11-6, 11-1, 11-5) in under 20 minutes.
For the Japanese pairing of Miu Hirano with Kasumi Ishikawa, the challenge of Portugal’s Shao Jieni with Yu Fu came as a reality check, as they lost the first game. However, Hirano and Ishikawa found their feet and eventually ran out 3-1 winners.
Scrum-half Leanne Riley and fly-half Katy Daley-McLean start for England as their Grand Slam defence continues against Ireland in Doncaster.
Riley, 26, was left out of the Red Roses' win against Scotland but pushes World Cup winner Mo Hunt to the bench for Sunday's game at Castle Park.
Full-back Emily Scott, player of the match at Murrayfield, is replaced by Sarah McKenna.
Loughborough Lightning's Detysha Harper could win her first cap off the bench.
Harper was a late call-up to the squad after Hannah Botterman was ruled out with a calf injury.
Amber Reed remains at 12, with Zoe Harrison - who started at centre in the first round and fly-half in the second - on the bench for England's first home game of the tournament.
Riley's reinstatement to the matchday 23 means Claudia MacDonald is left out of the side altogether.
"Our strength-in-depth and competition for places has seen us make a few changes," said head coach Simon Middleton.
"We've brought Katy [Daley-McLean] back in for this game as her ability to marshal the troops and manage the side around the field will be essential in such a high-pressure game.
"Leanne Riley returns as we rotated the squad from last week. Mo Hunt went well for us in Scotland as did Claudia MacDonald, who I thought had her best performance in an England shirt coming on as a finisher.
"We are lucky to have three such outstanding scrum-halves and it's crucial we keep them all ticking over, hence the changes for this week."
England are favourites to win the Grand Slam and face Ireland, the only other unbeaten side in the tournament so far, at a sold-out Castle Park.
'Challenging' weather hinders training
England beat Scotland 53-0 in freezing conditions as Storm Ciara hit Murrayfield two weeks ago and the more recent Storm Dennis has been disruptive for Middleton's side too.
The England coach says the weather has presented "a fair few challenges", forcing the leadership group, led by captain Sarah Hunter and vice-captain Emily Scarratt, to step up.
"In truth it's been almost impossible to get through the quality of work we wanted to on the field," Middleton added.
"So our mental approach to the game and our attitude will be key. Our leadership group deserve a lot of credit for the way they've kept everyone together and impacted on both on-field and off-field sessions.
"We also know we have a group of players who can rise to any challenge and a game to suit all conditions. We have shown that over the first two rounds and we know we have the qualities to do it again on Sunday regardless of whatever either Ireland or the weather throw up."
Centre Jonathan Joseph is on the wing for his 50th cap as head coach Eddie Jones shuffles England's backline for Sunday's Six Nations game with Ireland.
Elliot Daly moves to full-back for the Twickenham game with George Furbank, who began the first two games, injured.
Centre Manu Tuilagi is back after recovering from a groin niggle.
Prop Joe Marler replaces the unavailable Mako Vunipola, with Ben Youngs returning at scrum-half and Courtney Lawes starting on the flank.
"We can't wait to get back out there in front of 80,000 people on Sunday," said Jones.
There are four personnel changes from the starting XV that edged past Scotland at Murrayfield a fortnight ago.
In addition to filling the gaps left by the unavailable Vunipola and injured Furbank, Lawes replaces Lewis Ludlam in the back row while Youngs takes over from Willi Heinz at scrum-half.
Henry Slade - who hasn't played since December because of a fractured ankle - returns to the bench.
There are also two locks, Charlie Ewels and Joe Launchbury, among the replacements as Jones again loads his bench with six forwards.
England welcome an Ireland side buoyed by two wins so far in the tournament, with head coach Andy Farrell - father of England captain Owen - taking charge of his first Six Nations campaign.
"Ireland are a very good team, extremely well-coached. They are a team we respect a lot," Jones added.
"They will bring their usual physicality and under Andy Farrell they've opened up their game a little bit.
"They are a tactically smart team. [Conor] Murray and [Johnny] Sexton, who have played 170 Tests between them, at nine and 10 will manage the game well.
"We've got to make sure we match their physicality and their emotion."
Jones has been under fire this week after apologising to a reporter for a joke at a press conference on Thursday.
In response to a question about his meditation practises, after revealing last year how mindfulness exercises were part of his morning routine, Jones said: "You must be thinking about someone else. Maybe another half-Asian person. Maybe we all look the same."
World Cup winning scrum-half Matt Dawson told BBC 5 live the England players could be starting to tire of Jones' behaviour in front of the media.
"My concern is that it will now start to affect the players. He can't help himself," Dawson said.
"The players keep laughing it off and they play it down, but there will come a point when in the back of their minds they will go: 'Eddie, shut up. Stop it. Because you are winding someone up somewhere. You are not helping'."
And yet, they've done all that despite letting one of the best attackers in the world go play somewhere else.
Amid the club's glittering success over the past two seasons, there's a former Liverpool prospect who's lighting it up for one of the best teams in one of the best leagues in the world, week in and week out. In his club's trademark sky-blue jerseys, he's breaking down opposing defenses in Lionel Messi-esque fashion, slipping past hapless opponents into the attacking third, sliding passes into space for his teammates, or putting the ball into the back of the net all by himself. Over the past three seasons, he's blossomed into a true foundational star, showing that if you build your team around him, you can challenge for a title.
We're, of course, talking about Lazio's Luis Alberto.
The conversation around the "most underrated player in the world" begins and ends with Luis Alberto. It's him, and I won't be hearing any dissent on the matter. Just take a look at the company he's keeping, and think about how often you've heard his name mentioned in the same breath as some of these dudes. My guess: probably never.
Since the beginning of the 2017-18 season, per TruMedia, only six players in Europe's Big Five leagues have at least 30 assists: Lionel Messi, Thomas Muller, Kevin De Bruyne, Alejandro Gomez, Jadon Sancho and Alberto. Yes, you only get assists if your teammates convert the passes for you, but the quality of Alberto's chance creation is right up there, too. He's got 26.25 expected assists since 17-18, only behind Messi, De Bruyne, Muller, Gomez, Dimitri Payet and Angel Di Maria.
When it comes to passes into the penalty area -- the most valuable kind of pass -- only Messi, Gomez, De Bruyne and fellow Liverpool cast-off Suso have completed more. And it's not just the final-ball, either. Only Messi, David Silva, Jorginho, Eden Hazard and De Bruyne have played more passes into the final-third. A quick note about the GOAT: Messi leads all of the categories we've mentioned so far. He's all right.
Although he's predominantly right-footed, Alberto tends to play his passes into the penalty area from the left edge of the penalty area and beyond. This is a heat map of the starting position for all of his passes into the box since 2017-18:
The locations for his 30 assists are a bit more scattered, if still tending toward that left channel. All the pass-spots are indicated below:
Take all of that together and you've got a devastating passer who's involved in all phases and facets of possession play. Since 2017-18, among players who have played at least 900 minutes, there are four players who have averaged at least 0.4 assists, 4.5 passes into the penalty area, and 20 passes into the final-third per 90 minutes: Messi, Neymar, De Bruyne and Luis Alberto. There simply aren't many players who can make the pass that establishes possession, make the pass that breaks the defense apart and make the pass that creates the goal. Lazio's got one of 'em.
Even with that surprisingly low (and not necessarily scientifically accurate) valuation, Lazio's acquisition of Alberto has to be one of the best deals of the past decade.
Liverpool bought him from Sevilla for $8.8m back in 2013. In his debut age-20 season at Anfield, he featured for 135 minutes in the Premier League, 51 minutes in the FA Cup and 72 minutes in the league cup. The highlight of his first year -- an assist to Luis Suarez in a 5-0 win over Tottenham -- ended up being the only highlight of his Liverpool career, as he never appeared in another competitive game for the club after their second-place finish in 2013-14. The next year, he went on loan to Malaga. Then, in 2015-16, it was another loan to Deportivo La Coruna.
Despite an impressive stint in Galicia -- at age 22, he was 18th in La Liga with 0.56 non-penalty goals+assists per 90 minutes -- Liverpool, ahead of Jurgen Klopp's first full season with the club, cut bait and sent Alberto to Lazio for $4.4 million, which was a 50% markdown on what they paid to acquire him.
Alberto didn't feature much in his first season in Rome, but he exploded as soon as he became a full-time starter. In 2017-18, he led Serie A in assists, and was third behind his teammate Ciro Immobile and Juventus' Paulo Dybala in npG+A per 90. No one completed more passes into the penalty area, and only Maurizio Sarri's Napoli trio of Lorenzo Insigne, Jorginho and Marek Hamsik completed more passes into the final third. Last season, Alberto missed 10 games due to injury, but when he played, he was just as dangerous: per 90 minutes, he was seventh in expected assists, second in passes into the box and third in passes into the final-third.
play
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Is Inter mismanaging Christian Eriksen?
Shaka Hislop doesn't understand why Antonio Conte decided against starting Christian Eriksen vs. Lazio.
Without the consistent presence of Alberto, Lazio slumped down to eighth place last season after a fifth-place finish (well, tied for fourth on points) the year before. Well this year, Alberto's only missed one match and Lazio are only one point behind Juventus in first place. They have the best goal differential in Italy, and per the site FBRef, only Atalanta have a better expected-goal differential. Alberto, meanwhile, might be better than ever before: He's leading Serie A in assists, passes into the penalty area and passes into the final-third.
Per FiveThirtyEight, Lazio have a 22% chance of winning Serie A, and the betting markets are roughly in line with that, too. They're undefeated in their last 19 matches, a 15-win-and-four-draw stretch that includes an emphatic 3-1 win over Juventus back in early December. Their last loss came on Sept. 25, away to Inter, who they played (and beat) last weekend. With Alberto pulling the strings up down and across the field, Lazio are absolutely playing well enough to win the title; the only question is whether or not they can keep it up.
Alberto's former team is going to win a league title this season, and after Lazio took three points from Inter last weekend, Alberto might win one as well.
For two teams who go into the weekend technically in the Champions League places (if you take into account Man City's ban next year), neither Chelsea nor Tottenham are in particularly good shape. In the blue corner we have Frank Lampard's side, in rotten form having collected only 15 points from their last 14 games. Also their top-scorer Tammy Abraham is out, N'Golo Kante will be struggling, neither of their goalkeeping options inspire confidence and there is a general malaise around the side at the moment. You wonder whether, if their manager wasn't Lampard, he would still be in a job.
And in the white corner there's Tottenham, without their two most/only potent attacking forces in Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min, possibly for the rest of the season, and with a manager who will use that as a reason to play despairingly unambitious football. Jose Mourinho spent most of his postmatch media duties following their 1-0 Champions League defeat to RB Leipzig complaining about the physical state of his squad which, while not ideal, got tiresome after a while.
All of which adds up to a pair of teams who are not in a good moment. This could be a tense, grim, but nonetheless fascinating, encounter between two of the teams looking to take advantage of City's suspension from the Champions League.
How will Leicester solve the Ndidi problem?
Leicester being without Wilfred Ndidi is a problem at the best of times for Brendan Rodgers, but when they're playing Manchester City, it becomes all the more acute. Defensive midfielder Ndidi has been out for nearly two months now, save for an abortive comeback in the Carabao Cup semifinal, but the real kicker for Leicester is that his two obvious replacements, Hamza Choudhury and Nampalys Mendy, are both absent too.
There are a number of temporary solutions that Rodgers could call upon, from dropping Youri Tielemans deep, to trying Dennis Praet at the base of his usual midfield, or changing his system entirely, but against a City team likely to include the relentless Kevin De Bruyne, he'd better make his selection carefully.
Will Arsenal continue their good run?
The win finally came last weekend as Arsenal beat Newcastle 4-0 after a load of draws under Mikel Arteta, and they backed that up by beating Olympiakos 1-0 in the Europa League on Thursday. Perhaps most importantly, they've now kept three clean sheets in a row, unheard of parsimony at the Emirates in recent times, which shows a broader structural solidity in Arteta's Arsenal than what came before.
Suddenly, the Champions League looks in range, the Gunners sitting six points back from fifth place, and they could overtake a potential rival for that spot by beating Everton on Sunday. Perhaps the Arteta revolution really is underway.
It's not necessarily a sign that all isn't well when a player reacts to being substituted with some vexation. Alli threw a water bottle to the ground and used some spicy language after coming off against Leipzig, which Mourinho declared was more frustration at his own performance than about being withdrawn, before unhelpfully adding that Spurs looked better without Alli.
The trouble is that Alli is the most plausible candidate to solve the club's attacking issues; theoretically the player most able to do a passable impression of a centre-forward without Kane or Son around. But after a bright start under Mourinho, Alli's form has drifted away in recent weeks, looking more like the brother that Mourinho referenced in his early days. Spurs need the real Alli to step up now more than ever.
THE GAME YOU'RE NOT PLANNING TO WATCH...BUT SHOULD
Liverpool vs. West Ham
Most neutrals watch the Premier League for the sense of competition, so on that basis nobody would blame you if you gave Liverpool's 'lesser' games a miss for the remainder of the season. There's no peril left in the title race and the only thing that remains to be confirmed is when Liverpool will confirm their first league win in 30 years, thus it would be tempting not to bother with games like this one against West Ham.
But we should be aware of what we're witnessing here: domination on an unprecedented scale, Liverpool truly laying waste to the rest of the Premier League, and we should at least be sure to drink that in as much as possible. You might not like how one-sided this season has become, and you might not even like Liverpool, but you must admire them and we would encourage you to admire them as much as possible over the next 12 games.
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1:41
Steve Nicol sounds off on Liverpool's 'cry baby' comments
The ESPN FC crew feel Liverpool's criticisms of Atletico Madrid have empowered them heading into the second leg.
THE TEAM THAT NEEDS A BIT OF LUCK
Southampton
The redemption story of Southampton recovering from that 9-0 thrashing by Leicester will be one of the better ones told this season, but one aspect that they still need to address is their home form. Nobody has collected fewer points than Southampton's 11 on their own patch this season, only winning three games at St Mary's and losing eight. Not all of the defeats have been as painful as the 9-0, but Ralph Hasenhuttl is very much aware that their home record needs to improve.
There are good reasons for this, not least that Southampton are a relatively reactive side and can often play like an away side when they're at home, but while they're edging further from relegation, a little relief for their home supporters would be gratefully received.
ONE THING THAT WILL DEFINITELY HAPPEN
Limited excitement at Selhurst
There are loads of ways to find entertainment in south London on a Saturday, so if you're in the area this weekend and are looking for some diversion, maybe give Selhurst Park a swerve. For there meets two of the lowest-scoring teams in the Premier League, Crystal Palace being the most goal-shy with 23 and Newcastle just one above them with 24 strikes to their name this season.
Football is technically a form of public entertainment, but anyone attending this one would be within their rights to challenge that description.
The race for Champions League qualification has never been more intense in the Premier League, with as many as eight clubs eyeing fourth position behind the top three of Liverpool, Manchester City and Leicester. If City fail in their bid to overturn UEFA's two-year ban from the Champions League when they lodge an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, fifth position could yet secure a place in next season's competition.
But as it stands, only seven points separate Chelsea in fourth from Arsenal and Burnley, who sit in 10th and 11th position, respectively. Chelsea's clash with fifth-placed Tottenham at Stamford Bridge on Saturday is a crucial fixture for both clubs' Champions League aspirations, but with 12 games to go, all of the teams involved in the race for fourth have issues to address.
So who will clinch fourth and the potential wild card that could come with finishing fifth? ESPN has assessed the run-in.
MAN UNITED Projected finish: 4th Current position: 7th, 38 points
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team are probably the most unpredictable of all of the clubs chasing fourth spot. They've beaten four of the current top five and are the only side to have taken points off Liverpool this season, but they have also lost against relegation-threatened Watford, Bournemouth and West Ham. Games next month against Everton, City, Spurs and Sheffield United make March decisive, but if United remain in touch after that run, their next six games are against strugglers, ensuring they should be in the top four ahead of the final game away to Leicester.
WOLVES Projected finish: 5th Current position: 8th, 36 points
Nuno Espirito Santo's team are flying under the radar in eighth position, five points behind Chelsea, but they have a comfortable run of fixtures ahead that could see them climb into the top four. Aside from a trip to Spurs on March 1, five of their next six games are against teams in the lower reaches. Europa League commitments could get in the way of Wolves' ambitions, but they have perhaps the most appealing run-in of the chasing pack. A trip to Chelsea on the final day is likely to be decisive, especially if fifth spot comes into play.
CHELSEA Projected finish: 6th Current position: 4th, 41 points
Chelsea have occupied a top-four spot all season, but the wheels are falling off for Frank Lampard and his team, who would be sitting in 11th if the Premier League table was based on the last 10 games. They have taken two points from their past four league games, which have included a defeat against United and draw against Arsenal. Goals have started to dry up, U.S. star Christian Pulisic is sidelined through injury and the lack of signings over the past two transfer windows (due to a FIFA ban) is beginning to show.
With Chelsea still to play five of the top six this season, including a trip to Liverpool, it's tough to see them finishing in the top four.
ARSENAL Projected finish: 7th Current position: 10th, 34 points
Bridging a seven-point gap to fourth will be a tough challenge for Mikel Arteta's team, who have won just twice in the league since the Spaniard replaced the sacked Unai Emery in December. The flip side, though, is that Arsenal have lost just once during the same run, so Arteta has clearly made the Gunners more durable and tough to beat. Sunday's game against Everton at the Emirates is huge because a defeat for either side would be a hammer blow for their prospects. If Arsenal can win that, they will put themselves firmly in contention for a Champions League spot. But seven points is a big deficit.
TOTTENHAM Projected finish: 8th Current position: 5th, 40 points
Jose Mourinho has worked a minor miracle by getting Spurs back into contention for the top four having succeeded Mauricio Pochettino with the club languishing in 14th, 11 points behind fourth place, back in November. But while results over the past 10 games put them fourth in the form guide, injuries to Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min have left Spurs without their two main scorers, and with six of their next seven games against rivals for fourth, a big question mark hangs over who will score their goals.
With Kane and Son available, Spurs would probably sail into the top four, but their absence is likely to be a decisive blow.
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1:26
How does Son's injury impact Tottenham's season?
Craig Burley reacts to the news Spurs' Son Heung-min is expected to miss the rest of the 2019-20 campaign.
SHEFFIELD UNITED Projected finish: 9th Current position: 6th place, 39 points
Chris Wilder's team have been the surprise package of the season, having been written off as relegation candidates following promotion from the Championship last May. But the Blades have been comfortable in the top half all campaign and they sit in sixth, just two points off the top four.
The next three games are likely to be crucial, however, as they face Brighton, Norwich and Newcastle before back-to-back encounters with Manchester United and Spurs. They must then navigate a run-in that also pits them against Burnley, Wolves, Chelsea, Leicester and Everton, so finishing in the top four looks a tall order.
EVERTON Projected finish: 10th Current position: 9th place, 36 points
Carlo Ancelotti has confounded the sceptics since replacing the sacked Marco Silva at Goodison Park in December, lifting Everton from 15th (and four points above the relegation zone) to ninth and within five points of fourth. Only Liverpool and City have amassed more points from their past 10 league games, but now comes the crunch for Everton, with their next four games pitting them against Arsenal, United, Chelsea and Liverpool.
Results against the "Big Six" have been Everton's weakness this season and in the past, so their top-four challenge could be over by the time they emerge from that run. If not, then they could storm into fourth.
BURNLEY Projected finish: 11th Current position: 11th, 34 points
As impressive as Burnley have been under Sean Dyche in terms of pulling clear of the relegation battle, their priority continues to centre on securing safety rather than focusing on their hope of an unlikely place in the Champions League.
A goal difference of -9 highlights their shortcomings in mounting a charge on fourth or fifth, but as they sit level on points with Arsenal, Burnley cannot be ruled out. They are rank outsiders, though, and trips to Liverpool and City mean their European hopes look even more unlikely.
On the surface, Sri Lanka are favourites. They are one spot higher on the rankings (eighth to West Indies' ninth), finished stronger in the World Cup last year - beating West Indies in a thriller. And they are, of course, at home. But the spirit of resurgence in the West Indies side is difficult to overlook. Late last year, they pushed India close, in India. More recently, they swept Ireland in a three-match series at home.
And yet, West Indies being West Indies, they are missing key players for strange reasons. Evin Lewis top-scored in that series against Ireland, but has been omitted from the squad to Sri Lanka because he "came up short in the fitness test", according to CWI chief selector Roger Harper. Shimron Hetmyer, whose spectacular 139 off 106 balls propelled West Indies to their win over India in December is missing for the same reason.
In their two practice matches, however, the West Indies top order built up some decent form, and have not seemed to miss Hetmyer and Lewis terribly. Darren Bravo, who might not have got a place in the squad had either of those batsmen been picked, made an unbeaten 100 off 88 in the first game, before Roston Chase struck 136 off 113 in the more serious warm-up on Thursday.
Sri Lanka's own top order appears reasonably secure, even without Danushka Gunathilaka, who is out with injury. But they will worry, as usual, about the inexperienced attack, that has been inconsistent since the retirement of Lasith Malinga. Legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga has shown glimpses of promise, but needs another good series to really nail his place down. Left-arm wristspinner Lakshan Sandakan, who has been around the team for years, has not quite made himself a feature in the XI either, though he has been improving steadily in the background.
Form guide
West Indies WWWLL (completed matches, most recent first) Sri Lanka LLWWW
In the spotlight
Nicholas Pooran didn't have quite as good a series against Ireland as Lewis, but his 112 runs at an average of 56 put him on second at the table, and he has eased himself nicely into this tour with a 41 not out off 38 balls in the first practice match. Perhaps more importantly, Pooran will have good memories of playing Sri Lanka, with his best international innings coming against them during the World Cup - his 118 off 103 balls giving West Indies hope of chasing down a target of 339. He had a minor back complaint in the week leading up to this match, but should be at somewhere near full fitness for this match.
Sri Lanka coach Mickey Arthur confirmed that Thisara Perera was likely to return to Sri Lanka's ODI XI for this game, owing largely to his bowling, which they see as superior to that of Dasun Shanaka, his competition for the No. 7 spot. Thisara's recent bowling returns, however, haven't been encouraging. He has not taken a wicket in his five most-recent ODIs (though during that sequence, he has occasionally been economical, such as against India in the World Cup, where he conceded only 34 from his 10 overs). With Shanaka in good batting form in the ongoing first-class competition in Sri Lanka, Thisara needs to impose himself on this series to keep Shanaka out of the XI.
Team news
With Brandon King having had two modest outings in the practice games, West Indies may go with Sunil Ambris at the top of the order to partner Shai Hope. With Roston Chase's fingerspin also available, they may feel they do not need more than one specialist spinner - left-arm spinner Fabian Allen, most likely.
West Indies (possible): 1 Sunil Ambris, 2 Shai Hope (wk), 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Roston Chase, 5 Nicholas Pooran, 6 Kieron Pollard (capt.), 7 Jason Holder, 8 Fabian Allen, 9 Keemo Paul, 10 Alzarri Joseph, 11 Sheldon Cottrell
Arthur confirmed that only 12 players are in contention for the first ODI. The only decision Sri Lanka have to make is whether to play Lahiru Kumara as a third specialist seamer, or whether to field wristspinners Lakshan Sandakan and Wanindu Hasaranga together. You suspect they will take the latter option.
A decent one-day deck is expected at the SSC, where spin almost always plays a role. Although for once Sri Lanka are playing home matches in what is supposed to be the dry season, the arrival of international cricket has as usual brought with it the spectre of rain. There could be showers in the afternoon.
Stats and trivia
Although Thisara's recent bowling performances have not been heartening, he did have an outstanding 2018, when he took 25 wickets at an average of 20.72.
If West Indies win the series, they move up to eighth on the rankings, pushing Sri Lanka down to ninth.
Perhaps for the first time in 15 years, Bangladesh find themselves under pressure against Zimbabwe at home. During this period, Bangladesh have enjoyed, particularly at home, a heavy advantage in terms of spin-bowling, coupled with the opposition's lack of experience. The loss in the Sylhet Test two years ago was treated as a blip for the home side, and a big occasion in Zimbabwe cricket. But normal service resumed thereafter as Bangladesh bounced back to beat Zimbabwe by 218 runs in the next Test.
The current situation, however, presents a different context for the home side. They have lost their previous six Tests by large margins, which has led changes and shifts in their selection and game plans, and also invited the criticism of their board president three days before the Test. Whether that inspires or demotivates them is going to be one of the aspects to watch in this one-off Test.
Mominul Haque, already described as "soft" by the board chief, is going to lead in his first home Test, an altogether different proposition for the left-hander. Despite the low-visibility nature of this game, it could make or break his captaincy, given the team's recent poor run.
Bangladesh have opted for a bowling line-up comprising two seamers and two spinners. The batting line-up is almost set with Mushfiqur Rahim slotting back into the middle order after missing the Rawalpindi Test.
Zimbabwe, meanwhile, will have to deal with the absence of captain Sean Williams but Brendan Taylor, Sikandar Raza and stand-in captain Craig Ervine will look to provide the backbone for the performance.
Openers Prince Masvaure and Kevin Kasuza give Zimbabwe hope of stability at the top while Donald Tiripano can be expected to lead the bowling attack. This line-up will have good memories of competing well against Sri Lanka recently at home, as they look to pile on more pain on Bangladesh.
Form guide
Bangladesh LLLLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Zimbabwe DLLWL
In the spotlight
Abu Jayed has quietly cemented his position in the Test side, having become only the second Bangladesh pace bowler with 20 wickets in the last five years. He was accurate against Pakistan in the Rawalpindi Test, and earned praise from the senior players for his ability to bowl with a genuine outswing with both the new and old ball.
Sikandar Raza comes into this Test match fresh from a seven-wicket haul against Sri Lanka in Harare last month. He had also led the Zimbabwe attack in their Test win over Bangladesh in Sylhet two years ago, with a match haul of six wickets. Raza will have a crucial role to play with the bat, too, specially in the absence of Sean Williams in the middle-order.
Team news
Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehidy Hasan are automatic choices to replace Mahmudullah and Rubel Hossain from the previous Test XI. Bangladesh are set to field two seamers in Ebadot Hossain and Abu Jayed, with Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan making up the spin department.
Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Saif Hassan, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 4 Mominul Haque (capt), 5 Mushfiqur Rahim, 6 Mohammad Mithun, 7 Liton Das (wk), 8 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9 Taijul Islam, 10 Ebadot Hossain, 11 Abu Jayed
Zimbabwe could just make one change from the side that drew against Sri Lanka last month, with Timycen Maruma taking the place of the absent captain Sean Williams.
Zimbabwe (probable): 1 Prince Masvaure, 2 Kevin Kasuza, 3 Craig Ervine (capt), 4 Brendan Taylor, 5 Sikandar Raza, 6 Regis Chakabva (wk), 7 Timycen Maruma, 8 Carl Mumba, 9 Tinotenda Mutombodzi, 10 Donald Tiripano, 11 Victor Nyauchi
Pitch and conditions
Traditionally a spinners' paradise, the Shere Bangla National Stadium pitch is unlikely to be any different despite the home team picking several pace bowlers in their squad. The weather is expected to stay clear during these five days in Dhaka.
Stats and Trivia
This will be the 100th international match between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.
A 10-wicket haul will give Mehidy Hasan 100 Test wickets.
Sikandar Raza's 7-113 is the second best bowling figures by a Zimbabwe bowler in Tests.
Quotes
"2018 is history. We have come into this Test having played back-to-back Tests. The players are more in the game time. I am sure we will have a very good competition. As my captain said, Bangladesh is very strong at home. But it doesn't take away anything from us, and we will give them a run for their money," Zimbabwe coach Lalchand Rajput.
Australia were cruising at 2 for 67 chasing 133 with Alyssa Healy rolling on 51 from just 34 balls. Poonam Yadav didn't bowl in the first nine overs and Healy hit her fourth ball for six over long-on. But the legspinner changed the game with a dazzling spell. She bamboozled Australia's much-vaunted middle order to take 4 for 19 and guide India to victory. She nearly took a hat-trick with Taniya Bhatia dropping a tough caught-behind chance from Jess Jonassen. Here is how Alex Malcolm and Deivarayan Muthu described the action on ESPNcricinfo's ball-by-ball commentary.
9.5 Poonam Yadav to Healy, OUT, caught and bowled! Just a 63kph leg break does the trick. This was a better length, Healy came down to it but wasn't to the pitch, tried to work to long-on, closed the face, got a leading edge and it floated back to Yadav! AJ Healy c & b Poonam Yadav 51 (35b 6x4 1x6) SR: 145.71
11.3 Poonam Yadav to Haynes, OUT, Poonam strikes another blow! Lobs up a wrong'un, it lures the batter out and goes past the outside edge. Delightful flight and India are back in this. Bhatia continues her fine shift behind the stumps RL Haynes st †Bhatia b Poonam Yadav 6 (8b 0x4 0x6) SR: 75.00
11.4 Poonam Yadav to Perry, OUT, Poonam is on a roll, she sends back Perry for a golden duck. She lobs up another wrong'un, Perry dares to step out. She is done in by the variation. Poonam sneaks through the gate and hits leg stump. What a double-strike from Poonam EA Perry b Poonam Yadav 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
11.5 Poonam Yadav to Jonassen, no run, Nearly a hat-trick for Poonam. Bhatia, the keeper, drops it in the end. Fairly difficult chance for the keeper. Poonam lobs up another googly, draws an outside edge as the batter pushes away from the body, the keeper follows the ball, but it pops out of the gloves
13.5 Poonam Yadav to Jonassen, OUT, 58kph, tossed up on middle and breaks away sharply, yet another wrong'un. She finds the edge again. Top work from Bhatia this time, after denying Poonam the hat-trick in her previous over. She snaffles it and sends Jonassen back. She dared to sweep against the break and paid the price JL Jonassen c †Bhatia b Poonam Yadav 2 (6b 0x4 0x6) SR: 33.33
Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo wants to act as a conduit between the players and the BCB president who openly criticised the Bangladesh players recently in the media, and gave them strict instructions to tell him everything about team affairs. Domingo and captain Mominul Haque had to field several questions about the statements made by BCB chief Nazmul Hassan, with both offering smiles and trying to deflect the matter.
On Tuesday, Hassan said that the team management must inform him of their intentions and game plans, including the exact batting line-up the day before. They cannot change their plans once he is informed, he said. Hassan also said that he has no confidence in the team beating Zimbabwe in the one-off Test starting Saturday, mainly because they lost to Afghanistan in September.
It elicited a strong reaction among the fans in Bangladesh, with many accusing Hassan of being too hands-on with his approach with the team. Domingo, however, defused the questions in the pre-match press conference.
"Remember, I come from South Africa, a lot of trouble goes in there," Domingo said, with laughter around the media conference room. "It is not like I am coming from England or Australia where it's easy where you do what you want to. I come from South Africa. It is tough there as well; selection is not easy. There's people with a lot of opinions and agendas. It is part of my job, and I have to deal with it [and] make the most of it.
"The important thing for me is that I keep the players and the captains away from it. I have to be the in-between guy. It is a big role but I have done it before in South Africa. There's a lot of trouble and challenges, so no different for me. I am cool with it."
Domingo said that he has had "passionate" discussions with Hassan, and claimed that there hasn't been a case of anyone telling him or the captain that they have to report the team details to the president.
"My dealings with president is very passionate about the team," he said. "He wants the team to do really well. I haven't spoken to him as yet. I have had some good practice sessions in the last week.
"I haven't been officially told about that I need to tell anyone about the team. I am not under any impression that I need to do it, as yet. I am as passionate about the team as the president. I am paid a salary to make decisions and do my work."
Domingo confirmed that they will continue with two seamers, as he felt there was a bit of movement during early morning training sessions in Mirpur in the last few days. "We will probably go with two seamers. I don't think it benefits our team playing just one seamer. Three seamers would have been perfect if we had a guy who could bat at No 7. Until [Mohammad] Saifuddin is fit or we find the guy who can bat at No. 7 and bowl 10 or 15 overs a day first, we will probably go with two seamers.
"There was a little bit of moisture in the nets around 10am this morning. There's little bit of winter still around so the first 10 to 12 overs tomorrow could still be tricky. If we end up bowling first tomorrow, seamers have to be on the money. We need two seamers to exploit if there is anything on the wicket."
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