Tigers up for English hustle

Casting aside the fallout from the purported rift between national-team stalwarts Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal, Bangladesh will be hoping to continue their dominance in the 50-over format when the Tigers take on England in the first ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National in Mirpur today. The match is scheduled to start at 12:00pm.

The three-match ODI series will also be the first assignment for newly-appointed head coach Chandika Hathurusingha and he will want his team to have an impact against the world champions.

After missing the previous series against India, ODI skipper Tamim is also set to stage a comeback, but the Tigers will undoubtedly face a stiff challenge in maintaining their dominance at home in their favoured format.

Barring a series defeat to England in 2016, Bangladesh have been unbeaten in their past twelve ODI series at home since 2015 and that will surely provide confidence as the hosts aim to clinch a maiden ODI series win against the English.

The likes of Shakib, Mahmudullah Riyad and Mushfiqur Rahim will lend their vast experience while new match-winners like Liton Das and Mehedi Hasan Miraz will also be hungry to perform.

On the other hand, England will look to continue their attacking brand of cricket regardless of the talk of how a slow and low Mirpur pitch could hamper their strategy.

Things have not been going to well for Jos Buttler and Co. in recent times, especially in the 50-over format where England have managed just one win in their last five ODI series.

Despite that, the experience that some of the visiting squad have of playing in Bangladesh should help them settle relatively quickly and adapt to conditions, meaning it will be a tough battle between the two sides.