Why Bangladesh can no longer be viewed as cricket’s pushovers
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A quick look at the betting for England’s upcoming ODI series in Bangladesh could easily persuade a casual cricket fan that this will be something of a procession for the tourists.
Odds of 2/5 sit alongside the Three Lions’ name ahead of the first contest in the three-match battle on Friday, while the hosts look rather overpriced at 2/1.
Bangladesh are no longer the easy-victory outfit that opposing teams would send reserve squads out to face.
No team should be aware of that more than England, who have lost to the Tigers three times in the last four ODI meetings, including being knocked out of the 2015 World Cup.
The hosts are on a six-series winning streak at home in this form of the game, beating the likes of Pakistan, India and South Africa in that time and haven’t lost to a non-Asian visitor since 2011.
Factor in the inexperience in England’s young squad and the fact that regular captain Eoin Morgan has opted to stay at home over security concerns and the price of Bangladesh winning this series becomes too good to turn down.
Jos Buttler will take the reins until Morgan returns to the helm in India and with the wicketkeeper having little captaincy experience to lean on, this could be a baptism of fire for the Lancashire man.
England are 4/9 to win the first ODI in Mirpur, with Bangladesh again unfancied at 7/4.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
