Bangladesh a better side - coach

Reuters

DEVELOPED: The Bangladesh cricket team celebrate during a game. Coach Jamie Siddons, inset, said his side is a lot further developed than the one that last toured New Zealand.

Relevant offers

Cricket

The magic is back for allrounder Jacob Oram Michael Bates set to make Black Caps debut Auckland into domestic one-day cricket final Bell tolls as England seek cricket improvement Proteas extra motivated to whitewash Black Caps Auckland upbeat on sudden-death Otago tie Broken finger puts Brownlie out of Black Caps Ponting form has selectors scrambling: Waugh Black Caps canter to victory in second ODI Nicol's 'sublime' knock key to Black Caps victory

Bangladesh cricket coach Jamie Siddons said his side is a lot further developed than the one that last toured New Zealand in 2007-08.

Bangladesh open their tour with a Twenty20 international against New Zealand in Hamilton tomorrow night.

"We are still a young side but they are starting to show real signs we are improving," Siddons said.

"In the one-dayers against India, 250 was our last score and 296 was our best score – these are great scores in our conditions over there.

"In the test against India, we had three different guys make 100s and five bowlers taking five-fors [five wickets or more in an innings].

"We also saw [skipper and left-arm spinner) Shakib [Al Hasan] continuing his form with another five-for so that's really great signs for us."

Australian Siddons, who had his contract extended to next year's World Cup after Bangladesh won their first test series overseas in the West Indies last year, confirmed that key bowler Mashrafe Mortaza would not make the trip to New Zealand.

"At this stage, he will not be coming over. He picked up a bit of a fever and hadn't done a lot of work. It probably set him back another week so it is not worth bringing him in."

He made light of Mark Greatbatch's appointment as New Zealand.

"I don't think it makes them vulnerable – they don't seem to be confused and they are all very happy with the new coach.

"They have had Dan [Vettori] there the whole time who is probably their general anyway. There may be a little bit of nerves so if we can play well, we can put them under some pressure."

Siddons said limiting the potential for damage by Vettori and Ross Taylor would be uppermost in his side's minds.

"Daniel has picked up wickets at the wrong times for us in test or one-dayers.

"He was the only thing stopping us from cleaning up New Zealand over there in Bangladesh last time. If we can get on top of him and minimise his damage then I think we will go all right.

"Taylor is a good hitter – we'll probably try and not bowl full tosses and half-trackers at him."

- © Fairfax NZ News