Test preparations start

KIMBERLY: Bangladesh’s preparations for the Test series against South Africa begins with a two-day match at the De Beers Diamond Oval here starting tomorrow (Saturday).

Kimberley is South Africa’s historic diamond capital and home to the Big Hole, the largest man-made excavation in the world. Other attractions here include The Battlefields, the Ghost Trail, McGregor Museum and diamond mines but there was no time for the Tigers to indulge in sightseeing with serious games coming up. On Thursday 12 out of the 15 players headed for an unscheduled afternoon practice session shortly after flying into Kimberley from East London via Johannesburg. They also had a two-hour session today morning at the De Beers Diamond Oval.
Bangladesh’s opponents tomorrow are a strong South African Airways Challenge XI captained by Griqualand West captain Wendell Bossenger. The experienced Bossenger is a wicket-keeper batsman and has played 98 first class matches for the Griqas with five hundreds and 33 fifties.