Andrew Alderson: Poor pitch makes for a tedious contest

International cricketers have to be capable of playing on any surface ... but when you look at the barren tarmac of Chittagong, it's understandable players might feel pangs of despondency batting or bowling.

Thud. That's the sound we've heard for the majority of the test as the pace bowlers hit the pitch sheen with a roughed-up ball and it balloons to the wicketkeeper. Doug Bracewell and Trent Boult have got the odd one to zing with the newer ball - particularly when they pitch up - but it resembles the 'strongman game' at a fairground; they're bending their backs for little reward.

The spinners aren't getting much purchase either. At times it looks like they're endeavouring to rip the ball off glass.

You'd have to be Shane Warne bowling his arsenal of chainsaws to dominate. Stealth is the watchword; sneak the ball past when the batsman's played through his shot or hit across the line.

Watching the ball onto the bat is more vital than usual as the game goes into slow motion. It's like bullet time in The Matrix.

Captain Brendon McCullum forewarned about this. He chuckled about the prospect of playing on a pitch where they were struggling to find a blade of grass. Ish Sodhi's debut was never in doubt.

McCullum must look forward - or at least hope - he will one day get to use the services of Daniel Vettori in such conditions. Bruce Martin with (0-113) and Sodhi with (2-112) have struggled to penetrate, despite nine of New Zealand's first innings wickets being taken by Bangladeshi spin.

Vettori is still some time away from being ready for the home summer. He has been rehabilitating from the Achilles tendon operation he had in London in June and will play club cricket soon.

Surely the bigger solution on the pitch issue is for the International Cricket Council to invest in developing more balanced wickets with bounce and carry to help Bangladesh cricket. Such a theory would slot into the 'hand-up' rather than 'hand-out' territory.

It's not like the current pitch conditions are benefiting the hosts. This ground has been host to 10 test matches since 2006 and produced eight results (all won by Bangladesh's opposition).

The flipside to this effect is that Bangladesh are also struggling overseas on wickets which contrast dramatically to their own. Until that changes they will struggle to rise beyond No10 in the world rankings.