Ireland must 'go through the gears' in second Test

Heinrich Malan says Ireland's mindset will not change for the second Test

Ireland head coach Heinrich Malan says his side must seek to "go through the gears" when they begin the second of their two-Test series against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Wednesday (03:30 GMT).

Bangladesh scored an emphatic win over the tourists in last week's first Test in Sylhet, winning by an innings and 47 runs.

The result ended Ireland's run of three Test victories in succession, but Malan insists the objective doesn't change as they seek to find a "tempo that suits us over the next five days".

Malan feels it will be "a different challenge to Sylhet" as they adapt to the conditions, but will take "learning" from the first Test.

"We're preparing the same way that we always do," he said.

"It doesn't matter who we play, or where, we go into that next game with the same mindset of wanting to win the match, and it's no different into this next five days.

"I feel the major learning we can take into the second Test is that we need to develop an understanding how we can go through those gears a little bit better.

"I think Bangladesh did that really well in the first Test - we bowled really well in that second session, but they went back into a lower gear and got through that period, then really cashed in at the back end."

'There were positives from first Test' - Tector

Harry Tector made his Test debut for Ireland in Dhaka in 2023

Harry Tector made his Test debut in Dhaka in 2023, scoring twin half-centuries, but didn't enjoy the same success with the bat in last week's Test.

However, the 25-year-old feels "there were a lot of positives" from Ireland's all-round performance they can take into the second Test.

"The way 'Stirlo' [Paul Stirling] batted up top was brilliant, and the two guys who made their debuts looked very comfortable at this level," he said.

"Cade [Carmichael] played beautifully with the bat - he made his debut in ODIs (One Day Internationals) during the summer against the West Indies and I thought he looked very at ease there against a high-quality pace attack at home. And then to come out here in totally different conditions to back home and look as comfortable as he did, scoring 50 in the first innings was brilliant.

"Jordan [Neill], he's still so young and he's still learning, but he's got lots of brilliant attributes as the all-rounder – he's a seriously talented batter, and we saw that with the runs he scored quite naturally."

The Ireland team was not oblivious to events in Budapest on Sunday where the Republic of Ireland's footballers scored a stunning 3-2 win over Hungary courtesy of Troy Parrott's last-gasp winner to complete his hat-trick.

That result kept their hopes of a place in next year's World Cup alive and the feel-good factor carried into the cricket squad as they watched in team captain Andy Balbirnie's room.

"When the second goal (equaliser) went in, we were excited, but when the third went in it was just pandemonium," Tector reported.

"Football in the Republic of Ireland is probably the only sport that can galvanise the entire country and it brings a real sense of national pride.

"I was only two years old the last time the country was at a World Cup (2002) so we have been waiting a long time. The fact they still have a chance to do it is an incredible achievement, so I was really proud."