Bangladesh Seek Maiden Test Win Over Proteas at the Wanderers
Sixteen meetings have produced no Bangladesh victory as the two-match series opens in Johannesburg.
Bangladesh open their South Africa tour with the first Test of a two-match series at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Sunday, November 15, with play starting at 1:30 PM IST. The visitors arrive on a quick turnaround following their recent series against the West Indies.
History offers them little encouragement. The sides have met 16 times in Test cricket, with South Africa winning 14 and Bangladesh yet to register a single victory. Two of those matches ended in draws, and none were tied or abandoned. Bangladesh's wait for a first win over the Proteas therefore stretches back across every encounter between the teams.
Form, though, gives the tourists some reason for optimism. Bangladesh climbed as high as fourth in the World Test Championship standings after notable results against Pakistan and Australia, before defeat in the West Indies pushed them down to fifth. South Africa, meanwhile, returned to the top two of the table after their high-profile series win over Australia a few weeks ago.
The series represents a chance for Bangladesh to break new ground, while the hosts will be aiming to protect a record that has never been seriously challenged by their opponents in the longest format.