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CHITTAGONG, Jan 5 (AFP) : Bangladesh and Zimbabwe may not arrest the world's attention in their two-Test series starting here Thursday, but each at least has the chance to enhance their reputation in a battle of lightweights.
Both teams have earned reputations as the whipping boys of international cricket after poor performances.
Bangladesh have lost 31 of their 34 matches since gaining Test status in 2000. The remaining three Tests -- two against Zimbabwe and one against the West Indies -- were drawn.
Zimbabwe's Test appearances were curtailed to just four matches last year following a revolt by white players against what they perceived as a racial selection policy.
The withdrawal of captain Heath Streak and other regular players depleted the side, which struggled in Tests and one-dayers.
Zimbabwe won just two of their 28 one-dayers in 2004 but are now in a rebuilding process under skipper Tatenda Taibu, who was only 20 when he took over from Streak.
Bangladesh will be looking to capitalise on Zimbabwe's inexperience to post their maiden Test win. They have recalled Enamul Haque to strengthen their spin bowling on a crease expected to favour slow bowlers.
The hosts, who lost both the home Tests against India by an innings margin last month, did better in the subsequent one-day series as they stunned Sourav Ganguly's team in the second match at Dhaka.
Bangladesh lost the three-match one-day series against India 2-1. Their overall one-day record is six victories from 101 matches.
Veteran Bangladeshi left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique said the pitch here was likely to help slow bowlers.
"We should be more comfortable playing on it. We've played on this wicket recently and know it well," he said, referring to his team's second and final Test against India.
Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar hoped his batsmen would rise to the occasion in this series after their failures against a stronger Indian attack.
The Zimbabwean batsmen gave a good account of themselves in their only warm-up game here before the opening Test, with opener Stuart Matsikenyri and Vusimuzi Sibanda scoring centuries in their team's massive total of 522-3 declared.
"It's good to see batsmen among runs. I think we gained a psychological advantage from the practice match and this will inspire us in the first Test," said Taibu.
The second and final Test will begin in Dhaka on January 14, followed by five one-dayers.
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