Siddons optimistic over Bangladesh chances

Bangladesh coach Jamie Siddons has found reason for optimism ahead of the first Test against South Africa in Mirpur on Friday, despite all four Test matches between the nations having ended in an innings defeat for his team.

The Tigers' form heading into the series is hardly impressive, having suffered a 2-0 humbling against New Zealand last month when their fragile batting was exposed as both Tests ended inside three days.However, Siddons is in positive mood heading into the two-Test series following the performance of his batsman who appeared for the Bangladesh Board XI in their warm-up match against the Proteas in Fatullah earlier this week.Against a full-strength Proteas bowling line-up the Bangladeshi batsman compiled 412 for nine with 20-year-old opening batsman Junaid Siddique pressing his claims for selection to the Test team with a well-crafted 103.Shakib Al Hasan added 73 and Aftab Ahmed 45."The batsmen scored runs, but it was a warm-up match not a Test match," Siddons told The Daily Star after the match."It is important to see some runs on the board but it's also important for us to see in which way we scored the runs. We would need more of a patient approach."Despite Siddons' optimism, South Africa arrived in Bangladesh as arguably the form team in Test cricket having recorded home series wins against New Zealand and West Indies to follow on from their triumph in Pakistan.Graeme Smith's side will also be eager to cast off the off-field controversy that surrounded their squad selection for the tour.