HAMILTON (New Zealand), Dec 16: New Zealand go into the first Test against Bangladesh starting Tuesday on a hiding to nothing.

They are expected to win and win well.

Bangladesh, fresh off an innings and 193 run loss to Auckland last week, are yet to win a Test in their short history.

The only Test of they seven they have played that did not end in a loss was a draw in the rained-out first match against Zimbabwe last month, where they were facing defeat anyway.

However Bangladesh coach Trevor Chappell is entering at the game in a positive frame of mind.

“We learnt a lot against Auckland and while we got hammered and at times we played some pretty ordinary stuff, particularly in the batting, we can improve against New Zealand,” Chappell said.

“They are expected to stuff us inside three days and obviously our job is to stop that.

“If we can’t stop them thrashing us, we must at least get into the fifth day and make them work for a win.”

Chappell said the problem his side had in their seven Tests so far were poor first innings scores.

The same happened against Auckland when they mustered just 120.

“It wasn’t easy batting out there and I don’t expect it to be easy here [Hamilton] either,” Chappell said.

“But we’ve got to master the demons and post a competitive first innings score.

“We’ve got to get out of our one-day habits and really battle. I know they [the players] can do it, but it’s a question of making them believe it.”

New Zealand meanwhile are fresh off a drawn series against Australia.

The series was also affected by bad weather though New Zealand, but for some dubious umpiring in the third Test in Perth, could have won the game and the series.

While Bangladesh are a step down from the world champion Australians, New Zealand coach Denis Aberhart is expecting his players to still perform at the highest level.

“Whatever you say about Bangladesh, this is still Test cricket,” Aberhart said.

“It’s about focusing on making improvements with your own game. If you get that right, you get the right result.

“The guys are looking to build from Australia and look to play positive cricket.”

Interestingly, the Hamilton Test will feature four players who have made centuries on their Test debut.

Aminul Islam (145 against India in Bangladesh’s debut Test) and 17-year-old Mohammad Ashraful (114 against Sri Lanka in September), the youngest centurion in test history, are expected to start for Bangladesh.

Mathew Sinclair, (214 against West Indies in 1999) and Lou Vincent, who scored 104 and then 54 against Australia in Perth were named in the same New Zealand 11 that drew the third Test with Australia.

Auckland pace bowler Chris Drum, who had match figures of 10 for 66 against Bangladesh, replaces Glen Sulzberger as 12th man.

Teams:

New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (captain), Mark Richardson, Lou Vincent, Mathew Sinclair, Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan, Chris Cairns, Adam Parore, Daniel Vettori, Shane Bond, Chris Martin, Chris Drum (12th man).

Bangladesh (probable): Khaled Mashud (captain), Javed Omar, Mohammad Al-Shahariar, Habibul Bashar, Aminul Islam, Mohammad Ashraful, Sanwar Hossein, Enamul Hoque, Mohammed Sharif, Manjural Islam, Mashrafe-bin-Mortaza, Khaled Mahmud (12th man).—Reuters