Wicket-talk has once again taken centre stage as Bangladesh hit the ground running at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Monday, gearing up for the second and final Test of the two-match series against Ireland starting this Wednesday.

The pitch at Mirpur has been under intense scrutiny throughout the year, drawing criticism from visiting teams and experts alike. 

Earlier this year, during the Pakistan series, visiting head coach Mike Hesson did not mince words when he described the surface as “not ideal for anybody” and went further to call it “unacceptable” after Pakistan’s dramatic batting collapse in the opening T20I.

The scrutiny only increased during the West Indies tour in October. 

Darren Sammy, the Windies head coach, admitted he had “never seen anything like it before” after battling the slow, spin-friendly black soil that confounded the Caribbean batsmen. Spin quickly became the defining feature of both white-ball series, with the unpredictable surface frequently dictating the course of play and dominating post-match discussions.

With Ireland arriving at Mirpur fresh off a livelier pitch in Sylhet, many expected another spin-friendly wicket that would heavily favour the home side’s strengths. The visitors would almost certainly have prepared for that challenge in advance.

However, early indications point to a different narrative altogether.

A fresh layer of green grass spread generously across the central square of the Mirpur pitch signals a pitch that may offer considerably more assistance to the fast bowlers than previously expected. 

Conversations within the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) suggest there is a deliberate shift in thinking when it comes to preparing this Test wicket.

“I won’t be surprised if they pick three quick bowlers,” revealed a member of the selection committee, hinting strongly at a seam-heavy attack. “The wicket has live grass on it — not just cut grass like in the old days — but fresh grass. That definitely changes the conditions and opens up options for the pace bowlers.”

A BCB cricket operations official echoed this optimism, assuring that the Mirpur pitch will be “significantly better” than what was seen during the West Indies One-Day Internationals just last month. “It will play far better and offer more balance between bat and ball,” the official stated confidently.

Bangladesh took a similar approach against Ireland at Mirpur in 2023 when they opted for three fast bowlers. However, there is a crucial difference this time around: Shakib Al Hasan, whose all-round capabilities provided valuable balance with both bat and ball, is no longer in the XI. How the team will structure the lineup to compensate for the absence of his dual skills remains a vital selection dilemma.

On Monday afternoon, BCB’s Head of Turf Management Tony Hemming was spotted overseeing the national team’s training session from the top floor of the multi-level facility near the indoor nets. The Australian expert had previously supervised the preparation of the Sylhet pitch for the first Test — a surface that received widespread praise for offering something for both quick bowlers and spinners over four days of play.

It is understood that Hemming did not have adequate time to prepare the pitch for the West Indies ODIs. However, with a longer preparation window this time, confidence is growing that Mirpur will finally produce a proper Test wicket.

“Without grass, you simply cannot call it a proper wicket,” explained a groundsman involved in the pitch preparation. “Grass needs time to grow and mature, and this time we had the luxury of time on our side.”

For now, all eyes remain firmly fixed on Mirpur — the most talked-about “player” before a single ball has even been bowled, as players, selectors, and fans alike await a surface that could redefine the course of this eagerly anticipated Test.