By Simon Mann BBC Sport in Chittagong

With 84 overs producing 182 runs on Thursday in Chittagong, it was a day to test even the cricket purist.

England, though, ended it as they began it - in control. It will take some defiant batting from Bangladesh to deny them a match-winning first-innings lead.

Hussain batted like a man trying to hit a deflated football with a broom handle

At least the bowlers enjoyed it, Rikki Clarke in particular.

The expectation is that he will lose his place if Andrew Flintoff is fit for the first Test in Sri Lanka, but Clarke is not going without a fight.

What he lacks in pace he is trying to make up for with some clever slower balls. He keeps the batsmen thinking.

He was a little fortunate to get his first wicket - the ball that had Hannan Sarkar lbw looked to be missing leg stump.

But his second was a genuine quick-bowler's dismissal, the ball catching the shoulder of Alok Kapali's bat before ballooning to slip.

Anyone offered the chance to sit through extended highlights of England's batting should insist they have a previous engagement. Lie if necessary but do not be persuaded.

The video of Nasser Hussain's innings should be kept away from children. It will put them off the game forever, and even Hussain will probably keep it under lock and key.

He batted like a man trying to hit a deflated football with a broom handle. When he did find his timing he invariably hit the ball straight to a fielder.

Read showed what could be done, batting with great fervour

Only once did he show signs of impatience, charging down the pitch against Mushfiqur Rahman and scuffing the ball to mid-on.

Hussain immediately returned to his circumspect game plan, which brought him 26 runs in the morning session.

Chris Read showed what was possible. He struck his first ball for four and was prepared to use his feet against the spinners and try the unorthodox to advance the score.

His dismissal shortly after lunch instigated England's feeble collapse.

The slow pitch and sluggish outfield helped Bangladesh's fightback with the ball but they helped themselves as well.

They preyed on England's reticence to attack, bowled tightly and waited patiently.

Musharafe Mortaza's efforts, in particular, were admirable. He is the one Bangladesh bowler capable of genuine pace.

The worry is that, like all good things, he will be over-used. He needs to be carefully nurtured and ideally found a new-ball partner of comparable ability.

When Mortaza is not bowling, Khaled Mahmud at least has the option of using his main spinner, Mohammed Rafique.

Rafique is a wily bowler, who is more likely to test a batsman's patience than tempt him into a big hit.