New Zealand coach Luke Ronchi expressed confidence that the team's recent Cricket World Cup exposure in India would prove beneficial as they gear up to break their Test series drought in Bangladesh.
Having extensively played on Asian pitches this year, including series in Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh, the Kiwis showcased a commendable performance at the World Cup in India, where they reached the semi-finals.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Tuesday's match in Sylhet, Ronchi highlighted the advantage of the players' familiarity with varied surfaces, especially those encountered in India. He emphasised that the experience of playing on different, slower, and turning pitches during the World Cup would be advantageous for the upcoming Test series in Bangladesh.
Before their World Cup stint, New Zealand secured a historic series win in Bangladesh after a 15-year wait, triumphing 2-0 in the three-match, one-day international series. However, the Kiwis are aiming to end their Test victory drought in Bangladesh, with their last Test win dating back to 2008 in Chittagong.
Ronchi acknowledged the significance of spin in the upcoming series, as both teams boast high-quality spinners. New Zealand has named a spin-heavy squad, including Mitchell Santner, Ajaz Patel, Ish Sodhi, and spin all-rounders Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra.
While Bangladesh will miss key players like regular captain Shakib Al Hasan, pacers Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, and batsmen Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das due to various reasons, coach Chandika Hathurusingha sees this as an exciting opportunity for youngsters to make their mark.
He acknowledged the challenge posed by the absence of experienced players but expressed optimism about the potential for emerging talents to shine.
The first test is scheduled in Sylhet, with the second test set to take place in Dhaka from December 6–10.
