Thrilling finale looms with Test on knife-edge

Whatever the result of a pulsating first Test between Bangladesh and England in Chittagong, it is another fantastic advert for the longest form of the game.

The contest is on a knife-edge heading into the final day, with Bangladesh needing 33 runs to chase down 286 and England two wickets to avoid their most humiliating Test defeat in living memory.

England have won all eight of their previous eight Tests against Bangladesh. This, though, is the closest of all of their meetings.

That it has come on a tour that was not even certain to go ahead a few months ago makes it even more of a delight. For once, talk of security – and the protection afforded to England is unprecedented in the history of cricket – has taken a back seat.

People are talking about what is happening on the field and they are spellbound by a Test match that has swung back and forth in thrilling fashion.

The terrorist attack on the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka last July that threatened this tour may have led to Eoin Morgan, England’s one-day captain, and Alex Hales, the opener, opting out of it after all of England’s players were given the choice.

However, Stuart Broad spoke for all those that did make the trip here when he reflected on a fascinating fourth day that mixed on-field drama with touching sentiment off it too.

Quick Single: Bad light halts classic in Chittagong

“Yes, it is a good day for Test cricket,” he said. “We’ve walked off very tired from a day’s hard work, but that’s what is part of the challenge of Test cricket – a test of character, testing yourself in very different conditions.

“All the players have really enjoyed being here. It’s lovely being on the boundary. Some of the Bangladeshi fans chanting ‘England’ and I think they have really appreciated the fact that we’ve come – because it was a big decision – and I’m glad the Test has been this exciting.

“I don’t think anyone likes 600 v 600. Everyone is drawn to Test cricket when it is tight and exciting.

“I’ve been fortunate to play 99 Tests matches and this would certainly be in my top 5 of nerve-wracking finishes. It shows how far Bangladesh cricket has come. They have some high quality players but we’re in a big battle tomorrow and we need to come out on top.”

Quick Single: Brilliant Kohli sinks Kiwis in third ODI

The teams were taken off 15 minutes before the scheduled close in Chittagong because of bad light and that meant the option of the extra half-hour never came into consideration.

Bangladesh, as they closed in on their target, were supported by the biggest crowd of the match so far – probably around 6,000 – who were as vociferous as the match was nerve-shredding.

“It’s a bit of a shame the game didn’t finish today – there was excitement, a lot of noise from the crowd but from our point of view we’re quite happy coming back tomorrow,” said Broad.

Of the 38 wickets that had fallen over the first four days, 19 have come in the morning sessions. “A lot of wickets have fallen in the first hour,” said Broad. “It could be advantage us but 33 runs isn’t a lot either.”

Everyone loves a nail-biter, especially English and Australian fans who remember the remarkable 2005 Edgbaston Ashes Test that the hosts somehow won by two runs.

Test cricket is full of dramatic encounters such as that and while many never get close to the drama of Edgbaston, this ding-dong in the ‘Gong is threatening to run it close.