HARARE — Zimbabwe and Bangladesh begin Test cricket's basement battle Wednesday as the two teams look to measure their personal progress in a two-match series. Although Zimbabwe has never lost a Test on home soil against Bangladesh, and beat it by 130 runs when the two sides last faced off in 2011, it comes into this series dispirited after two heavy defeats in the West Indies and another player contract crisis. By contrast, Bangladesh enjoyed an encouraging tour of Sri Lanka recently, when it posted its highest ever Test score and showed welcome signs of improvement. The importance of the two Tests for cricket's lowliest teams should not be underestimated. “We've played most of our cricket against Bangladesh, so they're the guys we use as our yardstick on whether we are improving or not,” Zimbabwe's stand-in coach Stephen Mangongo said. “It's absolutely important for us to remain in the international arena and for people to respect us, and to be dignified we need to be beating guys like Bangladesh. Otherwise people will take us for a joke.” Zimbabwe's off-field problems have not helped them in this regard, with non-contracted players recently staging a two-day strike over poor pay. Meanwhile Bangladesh will welcome allrounder Shakib Al Hasan back from injury, although he is likely to play the first Test only as a batsman. Pietersen ruled out Star England batsman Kevin Pietersen has been ruled out of next month's home Test series with New Zealand due to a knee injury, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said Tuesday. The 32-year-old had already been ruled out of the final Test match away to New Zealand due to the persistent problem in his right knee. — Agencies
