Bangladesh prepares for Australia Test series
Bangladesh prepares for Australia Test series
Bangladesh is set to face Australia in an ICC World Test Championship series, with the first Test scheduled from August 13-17 at Marrara Stadium in Darwin. Pacer Taskin Ahmed expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunity to play against Australia’s fast bowlers, whom he has admired since childhood. He mentioned watching players like Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins, and hopes for a chance to interact with them.
While Taskin Ahmed has not yet played a Test match in Australia, the 31-year-old has taken 14 wickets in nine One Day Internationals (ODIs) and T20 Internationals (T20Is) for Bangladesh. This includes six of his nine wickets for Bangladesh during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2015, which was co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
The Bangladesh team enters the series following a 2-1 ODI series win against Australia at home just two months prior. Taskin Ahmed, who was the second-highest wicket-taker for Bangladesh in that series, believes this victory provides a significant confidence boost for the visitors as they head into the Test matches. He noted that the conditions in Mirpur for the ODI series were more sporting than traditional turning wickets, contributing to their success. Despite the recent win, he acknowledged the difference between playing at home and away.
Squads and series details
The ICC World Test Championship series will feature two matches. The first Test is from August 13-17 at Marrara Stadium, Darwin, with play starting at 10am local time. The second Test is scheduled for August 22-26 at Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay.
The Australia squad includes Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, and Beau Webster. Pat Cummins returns as captain, alongside experienced bowlers Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon, who collectively played only three Ashes matches. Michael Neser, who suffered a calf injury, is unavailable.
Bangladesh’s squad for the first Test includes Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (vc), Soumya Sarkar, Shadman Islam, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Amite Hasan, Jaker Ali, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury, and Musfik Hasan.
Bangladesh has faced some injury setbacks ahead of the series. Fast bowler Nahid Rana is out with a side injury, and left-arm quick Shoriful Islam has been ruled out of the first Test due to a hamstring strain, though there is a possibility he could be fit for the second Test. Soumya Sarkar, an opener, has been recalled to the squad, having last played Test cricket in 2021, to address an experience gap at the top of the order. Litton Das was a late addition, bringing experience and class to the middle order, and is Bangladesh’s leading run-scorer in Tests over the past five years, with six hundreds and an average of 41.70.
Team form and WTC standings
Bangladesh is currently fourth in the WTC Standings with a 58.33 PCT after four outings in the current cycle. Australia, on the other hand, holds the pole position with a PCT of 87.50, aiming to secure a spot in next year’s ICC World Test Championship Final at The Oval.
Australia has not played Tests since their 4-1 Ashes series victory against England earlier in the year. Their form guide shows seven wins, two losses, and one draw in their last ten matches.
Their last ten matches show four wins, five losses, and one draw. In a warm-up match before the series, Bangladesh lost to a CA XI by an innings and 38 runs after being bowled out for 54 in their second innings; however, this was a warm-up and not a first-class fixture.
The officials for the first Test include Richard Illingworth and Kumar Dharmasena as field umpires, Nitin Menon as the third umpire, and Sam Nogajski as the fourth umpire. Richie Richardson will serve as the match referee for the series, which begins on August 13.
Source: icc-cricket.com
