Dhaka: Newly appointed Bangladesh cricket team head coach Steve Rhodes expressed his optimism before the start of his work with Tigers aiming to a good results on a full tour of the West Indies starting on June 27.

‘Test matches, they’re not complicated,’ said Rhodes adding ‘In trying to win a Test match, you need a good start. There are ways of winning without that, but it’s not rocket science. It’s about getting out of the traps, building on getting a good score, or bowling the opposition out. Really, it’s about not letting the opposition back in the game.’

The former English team wicketkeeper Rhodes was speaking at his first formal appearance before pressmen in Mirpur on Wednesday after joining as the Tigers’ head coach earlier this month [June 7] to coach an international team for the first time.

‘It’s a great opportunity for me, personally. It’s time for Steve Rhodes to become a ‘Tiger’,’ the 54-year-old Englishman continued.

‘West Indies are in a good place right now, so if that makes us an underdog, then fantastic. Let the underdog win,’ the coach added.

Bangladesh will play two Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is against the host during West Indies tour in July-August.

Rhodes expected West Indies to prepare pitches with pace and bounce, and he would make Bangladesh practice accordingly, which will include making plans for how to face Shannon Gabriel, who took 13 for 121 against Sri Lanka in the second Test - the third-best figures by a West Indian bowler.

‘You have watched the Sri Lanka series. The pitches are currently bouncing, and going to potentially suit their bowlers,’ he said. ‘My hunch is the pitches are going to be pretty similar. So we will try to incorporate our practices with bouncier, greener wickets in the three days of practice we have.’

Rhodes is pretty sure that the West Indian practice wickets will be a bit like Bangladesh wickets [without pace and bounce] and need to make sure Bangladesh batsmen, all-rounders, and fast bowlers, are ready to face some quick bowling on bouncy pitches.

Tour Schedule:

June 27-28: Warm-up match, Coolidge

July 4-8: 1st Test, North Sound

July 12-16: 2nd Test, Kingston

July 19: Warm-up match, Kingston

July 22: 1st ODI, Providence

July 26: 2nd ODI, Providence

July 28: 3rd ODI, Basseterre

August 1: 1st T20I, Basseterre

August 4: 2nd T20I, Lauderhill

August 5: 3rd T20I, Lauderhill