East London: South Africa will be looking for a convincing win when it plays its inaugural Test match against Bangladesh at Buffalo Park, starting on Friday.

Bangladesh has been the whipping boys of world cricket since it was given Test status in 2000, losing 12 of 13 matches. A rain-affected draw against Zimbabwe in Dhaka last season was the only time they avoided defeat.

The trend seems unlikely to change in the first of two Tests against a South African side eager to reinforce its number two ranking in the world Test championship after a traumatic 2001/02 season in which it lost five successive Tests against Australia, the champions.

A South African side too which will be eager to impress new coach Eric Simons. Simons has challenged the players to produce high-quality performances against all opponents.

There is also competition for places in the South African team and players will want to make sure they stay in the squad for tougher challenges later in the season from Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Bangladesh was trounced in three One-day Internationals before the Test series. It completed a 100-run win in a four-day warm-up game against South African Country Districts in Bedford on Tuesday but its batting, which has been poor on tour, again failed to impress as it was bowled out for totals of 260 and 164 by a weak bowling attack.

The Bangladesh selectors opted for youth when they picked the touring side. Pace bowlers, Tapas Baisya, 19, and Talha Jubair, 17, have both looked promising without threatening to run through teams.

The South African side for the first Test to be played in this coastal city contains eight of the players who finally reversed the trend of last summer by winning the final Test against Australia in Durban in March.

It would have been nine but left-arm spinner Paul Adams was forced out by a back injury and replaced by fellow left-armer Claude Henderson.

Wicket-keeper Mark Boucher will captain the side in his hometown. Boucher took over for the home series against Australia last season because regular skipper Shaun Pollock was injured.

Pollock played in the One-day series against Bangladesh but is being rested from the Test because of a strain behind his left knee. Batsman Martin van Jaarsveld, who made his international debut during the One-day series, wins his first Test cap ahead of the out-of-favour Neil McKenzie, while specialist fast bowler Mornantau Hayward was selected in place of all-rounder Andrew Hall.

The teams: South Africa: Mark Boucher (captain), Herschelle Gibbs, Gary Kirsten, Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, Ashwell Prince, Martin van Jaarsveld, Claude Henderson, Mornantau Hayward, Makhaya Ntini and David Terbrugge. 12th man: Alfonso Thomas.

Bangladesh (from): Khaled Mashud (captain), Al Sahariar, Hannan Sarkar, Javed Omar, Habibul Bashar, Sanwar Hossain, Tushar Imran, Alok Kapali, Khaled Mahmud, Mohammad Rafique, Tapash Baisya, Manjural Islam, Talha Jubair, Anwar Hossain and Rafiqul Islam.

Umpires: Daryl Harper (Australia), Russell Tiffin (Zimbabwe). TV umpire: Shahid Wadvalla (South Africa).

Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka).

Copyright AFP 2001

Extras:
SA can move closer to Australia with win over Bangla