Conrad cautions South Africa over Bangladesh pace as two-Test series begins in Johannesburg

South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad warned his side not to underestimate Bangladesh’s pace attack ahead of the two-Test series that begins in Johannesburg on November 15. The series opener will be played at the Wanderers, with the second Test scheduled in Centurion.

Both Tests are set in the Highveld region, where conditions traditionally offer pace and bounce, and South Africa expect Bangladesh’s fast bowlers to pose a significant challenge. Bangladesh have shifted away from a reliance on spin in recent years, with their pace unit increasingly producing match-winning performances and helping the team compete in overseas conditions.

“They’ve got a fast bowling attack now. Whereas in years gone by they’d come here with, with respect, a pop-gun attack. Now they’ve got guys who can mix it, especially up on the Highveld, where we expect conditions to favour fast bowling,” Conrad said at a press conference ahead of the series.

Ebadot Hossain’s rise in Tests has been a notable element of Bangladesh’s development; his six-wicket haul in the second innings at Mount Maunganui in January 2022 helped secure Bangladesh’s first-ever Test victory in New Zealand. Shoriful Islam has contributed left-arm variation and movement, while Hasan Mahmud has added accuracy, seam movement and the ability to trouble batters with the new ball.

Bangladesh’s capacity with pace was further emphasised by their Test win over Australia in Darwin in August, a nine-wicket victory achieved despite the absence of Nahid Rana and Shoriful Islam. In that match Hasan Mahmud took nine wickets, with Taskin Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain also making valuable contributions.

Nahid Rana remains unavailable for the South Africa Tests as he continues his recovery from injury, but Bangladesh’s depth was cited as sufficient to compete without him. Hasan Mahmud has also moved past Shahadat Hossain to become Bangladesh’s most successful fast bowler in terms of Test five-wicket hauls after claiming his fifth against the West Indies in November.

South Africa arrive having won a 2-1 Test series against Australia, and their pace corps led by Kagiso Rabada are expected to try to exploit home conditions. Conrad, however, has warned that Bangladesh possess the fast-bowling resources to make the series challenging for the hosts.

The tour continues after the two Tests with a three-match ODI series from December 1-7 and a three-match T20I series from December 10-13.