Bangladesh Eyes Adaptation for South Africa Tests
New batting consultant Dale Benkenstein says adjusting to conditions will be key as Bangladesh prepare for two Tests against South Africa.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Tennis
Bangladesh's newly appointed batting consultant Dale Benkenstein said adaptation will be central to the team's upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa. The first Test is scheduled to begin at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on November 15.
Why it matters
Bangladesh's players have mostly played in conditions close to sea level, while the Wanderers sits at roughly 1,750 metres, making altitude a significant test. The series also comes after a disappointing home series against West Indies that has narrowed Bangladesh's hopes in the World Test Championship cycle.
The Wanderers is about 1,750 metres above sea level, while Bangladesh's players have spent most of their careers near sea level, and South Africa won its recent Test series against Australia 2-1. The exact effect of altitude on Bangladesh's batting in this series has not yet been established.
The players
Dale Benkenstein
Benkenstein is a former South African Test cricketer who has been appointed as Bangladesh's batting consultant.
Bangladesh cricket team
Bangladesh is a Test-playing nation in the Asian region that has been working to improve its results in the World Test Championship cycle.
South Africa cricket team
South Africa is one of the leading Test-playing nations and is currently ranked at the top of the Test rankings.
The details
Benkenstein's emphasis is on Bangladesh starting sharply from the first ball of each Test rather than settling in after lunch. The team faces South Africa, currently ranked number one in Test cricket, and must still win its remaining four World Test Championship matches to have any mathematical chance of reaching the final.
Timeline
November 15, 2026: First Test of the two-match series against South Africa begins at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.
Season Trajectory
This series comes as Bangladesh's World Test Championship hopes have been narrowed by a disappointing home series against West Indies. South Africa's position at the top of the Test rankings after beating Australia 2-1 makes the Johannesburg challenge a significant test of where Bangladesh stands in the cycle.
The first Test begins at the Wanderers on November 15, so fans following Bangladesh's World Test Championship campaign will see how the team handles altitude from the opening session. Bangladesh's remaining four WTC matches are the only route to the final, so results in this series will directly shape that outcome.
The takeaway
Bangladesh's ability to start sharply and adapt to altitude in Johannesburg will be a key early indicator of how its remaining World Test Championship hopes play out.
Further reading
For more on international Test cricket, see the Tennis section.
