Bangladesh return to Australia for Test cricket after 23 years, facing a formidable hosts’ side in the opening match at Marrara Stadium.
DARWIN: Bangladesh will make their long-awaited return to Australia when they face the hosts in the first Test at Marrara Stadium in Darwin on August 13, marking their first red-ball tour of Australia in 23 years.
Bangladesh last played a Test in Australia in 2003, when they faced the hosts at the same venue. The opening match in Darwin will be followed by another Test in Mackay, which is set to host its first Test.
Australia lead World Test Championship standings
Australia enter the series as the leading team in the World Test Championship (WTC), having won seven of their eight Tests in the current cycle for a points percentage of 87.5%.
Bangladesh have played four Tests in the cycle. They lost a series 1-0 to Sri Lanka before completing a 2-0 sweep against Pakistan, lifting them to fourth place with a points percentage of 58.33%.
Australia’s most recent Test assignment was their successful Ashes campaign, while Bangladesh last played a one-off Test against Zimbabwe in June. Bangladesh lost that match by an innings and 85 runs, although it was not part of the WTC cycle.
Bangladesh face batting challenge
Bangladesh have reshaped their batting line-up ahead of the series, with Soumya Sarkar returning to the Test side after almost five years.
The batting will rely heavily on experienced players including Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto.
Mushfiqur remains a key figure after producing a player-of-the-series performance against Pakistan earlier this year, scoring 253 runs. He is now just 194 runs short of becoming the first Bangladeshi to score 7,000 Test runs.
However, Bangladesh’s preparations suffered a setback in their warm-up match against Cricket Australia XI. They were bowled out for just 54 in their second innings and eventually suffered an innings-and-38-run defeat.
Bangladesh’s pace attack weakened
Bangladesh’s pace-bowling resources have been hit by injuries. Nahid Rana has been ruled out with a side injury, while Shoriful Islam is sidelined by a hamstring problem.
In their absence, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain are expected to carry much of the pace-bowling responsibility.
Spin remains an important part of Bangladesh’s attack, with Taijul Islam leading the country’s wicket-takers with 270 Test wickets. Mehidy Hasan Miraz provides another important all-round option and scored a century in the warm-up match against Cricket Australia XI.
Australia welcome Lyon’s return
Australia’s batting line-up has a settled appearance, with Travis Head expected to continue opening alongside Jake Weatherald, who replaces retired opener Usman Khawaja.
Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne add considerable experience to the Australian middle order. Smith will also look to improve an unusual record against Bangladesh, who remain the only Test opponent against whom he has played without scoring a century.
Australia’s bowling attack remains formidable, with Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood providing a formidable pace threat.
Hazlewood is just five wickets away from reaching 300 Test wickets, while Starc needs seven wickets to break into the top 10 wicket-takers in Test history.
Veteran spinner Nathan Lyon also returns after recovering from a hamstring injury that required surgery. His presence further strengthens an already powerful Australian bowling unit.
Scott Boland misses out among the frontline quicks, while Cameron Green and Beau Webster provide additional all-round bowling options.
Darwin conditions could test both sides
Marrara Stadium offers a different challenge from Australia’s traditional Test venues, with Darwin’s climate expected to influence preparation and the behaviour of the drop-in pitch.
Recent evidence from Australia A’s four-day matches against Sri Lanka A last July suggests the surface could favour high-scoring cricket. Both matches ended in draws, with the second producing particularly large totals.
If similar conditions prevail, patience could prove crucial for the bowlers, while Bangladesh’s ability to withstand Australia’s pace attack will be closely tested.
Australia enter the contest as overwhelming favourites, but Bangladesh’s return to Test cricket in Australia after more than two decades adds considerable significance to the series. The opening Test in Darwin will provide a stern examination of Bangladesh’s reshaped batting line-up and depleted pace attack against an experienced Australian side.