The East German Stasi used to deprive their captives of sleep for days on end, denying the dignity of basic clothing and inflicting intolerable visual, aural and psychological torment. When after a few days the wretches clung only to the last remnants of their rebellious spirit, the officers would cease and desist, issue food, water and a crisp new suit: "Terribly sorry, sir, a misunderstanding, you'll be released presently." But soon they would attack again, knowing their victim would now submit to the inevitable.

The pathetic solace of a brief respite will be familiar if you are following the Test series between Bangladesh and England. After five days of interminable monotony beamed back from Chittagong at 3.30am, a blessed release has followed England's 181-run victory in the first Test. By Saturday thousands hoped to be sleeping past dawn, exchanging pajamas for something egg-stain-free and celebrating their new-found freedom in the outdoors.

Instead the punishment will begin again. I would tell Andy Flower anything by this stage but can't understand what he wants beyond a second, pointless Test victory in 10 days.

Rarely has a team emerged from an emphatic victory with so little unqualified credit. Alastair Cook became only the fifth Englishman to mark his captaincy debut with a century but has been rebuked for infantile tactics and Tebbit-level conservatism. Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann have both had to apologise for on-field language while Kevin Pietersen's biggest score in almost a year was forgotten as it was to a slow left-armer. The batsman has taken the headlines back with a withering rebuke of the pitch revealing his keen if not-always-obvious intelligence.

Such is life for the England cricket team - up to a point. But the laments for the selection and tactics have been well grounded. This ought to be a learning curve for Flower and his men but they have become too focused on the result, which is very nearly a foregone conclusion. The Tests should instead be used to challenge batsmen and audition new bowlers in search of a balanced team that can seriously challenge Australia at the end of the year.

To this end they should replace the opening batsman Michael Carberry with Adil Rashid. But having omitted the young Yorkshireman for this tour their only spinning option is James Tredwell, another offie and therefore unlikely to partner Swann anywhere else in the world.

The Chittagong selection was the wrong decision. England have to expect more from their top five and with Andrew Strauss on a brief vacation Carberry's was always likely to be a short career. But with Rashid absent and Luke Wright seemingly nearer to a role as motivation coach than Test all-rounder it's difficult to see how they can meaningfully change it. Ajmal Shazhad and Liam Plunkett are not suited to the conditions as bowlers and probably not good enough as batsmen to be realistic choices in a five-man attack against any other opposition.

Out of fairness to Carberry and a reluctance to admit mistakes, the tourists are likely to stick with the same team provided Broad overcomes a stomach bug. One argument for a fifth bowler is Paul Collingwood's apparent unfitness to contribute with the ball. Jonathan Trott is no serious threat and so it would rate as only a mild surprise if one of the four candidates were given a cap at Carberry's expense; it would be a much greater shock if any of these peripheral figures go on to feature in a successful Ashes campaign.

If Cook thinks he has faced criticism Shakib al Hasan would doubtless swap places in a second. The home captain's decision to field first upon winning the toss last Friday has been described as the worst ever in international cricket.

It is difficult to deny the charge but the Tigers were all the more exposed by their toothless pace attack. Rubel Hossain would be no prize for a strong English league side but the selectors have understandable doubts over the sharper, inexperienced Shafiul Islam. In a country of 162 million it should be possible to find two seamers whom Hasan trusts with the new ball but on the first evening in Chittagong the cherry went to Abdur Razzak.

The skipper compounded his first-day nightmare with an awful batting performance, befuddled by Swann in both innings for a total return of five runs. Certainly coach Jamie Siddons' appraisal that here was his best batsman looked disturbing.

Junaid Siddique would probably lay claim to that title now after becoming his country's 13th Test centurion. But wicketkeeper/vice-captain Mushfiqur Rahim also has a shout after sharing in that marathon Chittagong partnership, holding up the first innings with his bare hands and a recent Test ton against India. No matter that he bats with all the élan of a man twice his 21 years.

With the impressive Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah also in the top seven, the confidence-boosted Tigers will feel that they could stretch a four-man attack even tauter in this second Test. The question is whether the bowlers can provide any covering fire. Razzak has blamed a non-turning track for his own impotence but all individual Bangladeshi bowling strengths were elusive last week.

It is worth adding that the three-day break is not only insufficient for bleary-eyed spectators. Cook insists he has no regrets over not enforcing the follow-on but his bowlers will pay for their diva-fit if asked to go first on Saturday morning. If Broad and co should perform more stoically and without incessant refuelling during a day's play, they are also entitled to a longer rest between Tests - particularly on the subcontinent.

Key men:
Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal is one of the more experienced Tigers with 16 caps and made a fine 86 last week. With some promising middle-order men, the home side need a big innings to play around and he looks capable of providing it.

England: Graeme Swann was our pick last week and probably the man most likely again but for originality we'll say Tim Bresnan. Not everyone's idea of a Test stalwart on debut 10 months ago, he was exemplary in his commitment last week. He has staked a compelling claim for a World Cup place even if you suspect Steven Finn will be a better bet in Australia.

Last Five Results:
2010: 1st Test England beat Bangladesh by 181 runs at MA Aziz Stadium, Chittagong.
2005: 2nd Test England beat Bangladesh by an innings and 27 runs at Chester-le-Street, Co. Durham.
2005: 1st Test England best Bangladesh by an innings and 261 runs at Lord's, London.
2003: 2nd Test England beat Bangladesh by 329 runs at MA Aziz Stadium, Chittagong.
2003: 1st Test England beat Bangladesh by seven wickets at Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka.

Prediction
England to win and Kevin Pietersen to go one better but Bangladesh will make them work for it if they can win another toss.

Probable teams:
Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Junaid Siddique, Aftab Ahmed, Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Naeem Islam, Abdur Razzak, Shahadat Hossain, Rubel Hossain.

England: Alastair Cook, Michael Carberry, Jonathan Trott, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Matt Prior, Stuart Broad, Tim Bresnan, Graeme Swann, Steven Finn.

Dates: 20-24 March
Morning session: 9:30-11:30 local time (03:30-05:30, GMT)
Afternoon session: 12.10-14.10 local time (06:10-08.10 GMT)
Evening session: 14.30-16.30 local time (08:30-10.30 GMT).

Match referee: Jeff Crowe
Umpires: Tony Hill & Rodney Tucker

Peter May