A few years ago it was unthinkable that Australia could lose a Test series to Bangladesh. In 2015, the possibility actually looms large.
Australia will soon depart our shores for a two-Test series against the sport’s most recent entry to Test cricket.
The fifteen strong squad that boards the plane will be one of the country’s least experienced in many a year.
Michael Clarke, Chris Rogers, Brad Haddin, Shane Watson and Ryan Harris have ridden into international cricket’s sunset, taking with them a combined 292 Tests of experience.
David Warner (43 Tests) and Mitchell Johnson (71) are also absent – the former nursing an injury, the latter simply resting.
It will be a stern test for newly anointed skipper Steve Smith on his first overseas tour in charge.
Smith, with 33 caps, is one of just four members of the party to have played over 20 Tests alongside Peter Siddle (57), Nathan Lyon (46) and Mitchell Starc (22).
The remaining 11 men have played a total of 49 Tests, with two of them – Cameron Bancroft and Andrew Fekete – yet to don the baggy green.
The upcoming tour represents only the second time Australia has played a Test series in Bangladesh.
The first, also a two-Test series, took place in April 2006 and is best remembered for Jason Gillespie’s epic 201 not out at Chittagong where the tourists triumphed by an innings and 80 runs.
Back then the team boasted names like Ponting, Hayden, Gilchrist, Warne, Lee and Hussey.
There are no such luxuries in the current ranks. Not one player in the current squad has played a Test in Bangladesh.
In 2006 victory was automatically assumed. This time it is not.
Smith’s team will start as favourite but it would take a brave punter to really splash out on them. Australia’s batsmen have regularly been found wanting in Asian conditions.
In the past three years Australia’s top order has been cast aside with ease by both India and Pakistan – losing 4-nil to India and 2-nil to Pakistan in the Emirates.
On both occasions the vanquished side boasted vastly more experience than the one chosen for this series.
On paper the current Bangladesh side is unlikely to instil fear into Aussie fans. However, there is no doubting that their cricket is on the rise.
Their last Test series was a two-match encounter on home soil against world number one South Africa. Both matches were rain-affected draws with the second Test at Mirpur confined to a mere 88 overs.
However, in the opening Test at Chittagong, the home side dismissed South Africa for 248 before compiling 326 against an attack that included Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander.
Bangladesh has been outstanding in one day cricket this year.
In the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in February-March they beat England at Adelaide.
Following that were three home series, each of which they won – 3-nil over Pakistan and 2-1 against both India and South Africa.
They are starting to show that opponents can no longer take them lightly, especially at home. On the batting front the stand-out is 23-yerar-old Mominul Haque who averages 56 after 17 Tests, with a top-score of 181 against New Zealand.
He has been ably supported by the likes of Tamim Iqbal who averages 39, Shakib Al Hasan (40) and Nasir Hossain (37).
Whilst they are not outstanding numbers they are competitive and whether the inexperienced Australian top-order can match them is still to be determined.
In the field, Bangladesh will also rely heavily on Al Hasan whose left-arm finger spinners have netted 147 wickets at 33 in his 42 Tests – figures that almost parallel those of Lyon.
His 7-36 against New Zealand is the best of his 14 five-wicket-hauls.
Many of the other bowlers are raw internationally but again they will use the local conditions to test Australia’s historic vulnerabilities on low and slow pitches.
No doubt the host will endeavour to produce pitches that are heavily to their liking.
This series will be the start of a new era in Australian cricket and a thorough examination of the new breed.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
Steyn and Morkel played in that test series.
Gav
Guest
One thing that I struggle with in this debate, is the fact that SOK has consistently out bowled Lyon at domestic level. Often in the same matches. So Lyon is good enough to tie up and get wickets at test level, but not good enough to get our domestic batsman out?? Wtf! SOK deserves a shot, he has been incredibly consistent for the last 2-3 yrs. I'm not taking anything away from Lyon in saying this, because he has done very well and continues to improve. Interestingly, I also recall Warne being pretty average at domestic level.
Andrew
Guest
Khawaja will be all class for us at 3 given he is allowed some time in the team. I think We will do very well with the inflow of fresh energy that is very much required after the draining Ashes tour in more ways than one. Haddin, Watson and Clarke were all great players but were not contributing much in their last few games . Harris, Warner and Rogers are the guys that will be missed more so but Warner is back thankfully . If O'Keefe plays, that should help Australia a lot. I hope he gets to play a lot more Tests from
Andrew
Guest
According to what Lehman and Smith have said publicly, they seem to be going toward Khawaja at 3 and Smith at 4, with Voges definitely in the side he's at 5, and then looks like Maxwell's in for a pace bowler instead of Steve O'Keefe. They love their all rounders. Bancroft Burns Khawaja Smith Voges Nevil Maxwell Marsh Siddle Starc Lyon I'm sold on Khawaja as a Test #3, as he has been fantastic there for the Bulls and blues and as far as Maxwell being preferred to O'Keefe, I am not sure you've already got a long tail and O'Keefe can bat as good as Starc, Siddle & Marsh anyway. Smith will be the best number 4 in the world along with amla
Joel
Roar Rookie
Craig, Agar also played in those games and while he did OK he did not get anywhere near the results that SOK achieved in the same conditions bowling at the same batsman. You don't need to rate SOK for him to be good because his results speak for themselves in both shield and recent efforts overseas. I would be interested to know how many of Warnie's wickets were lower order. I'm betting... a lot.
QuitWhinging
Guest
If you ask the deluded fanclub there's been conspiracies to keep him out of the side. Shhh
QuitWhinging
Guest
I'm still waiting for you to prove that Michael Clarke kept him out of the side. Oh wait, you won't because you can't, because it's a bunch of BS
Armchair Expert
Guest
Enough said QW, I hope you enjoy SOK's bowling in Bangladesh.
Craig Watson
Guest
I have to admit I have never rated SOK. Have watched him since his early days with the Blues. Has never impressed me. Probably because he is a defensive bowler. Has always had the reputation as bowling dart like nude balls. I have to admit he is a fine domestic cricketer. But test class? Many think not. He bowled well in the second of the two A tests. So did part timer Gurinder Sandhu. His effort in the first is inflated. Of his 8 poles 6 were of blokes batting below #6.
Craig Watson
Guest
I stand corrected. That will teach me to check facts first. Should have read "drew with world champs" The Bangas acquitted themselves well in the rained out tests in July/August. They did however whip the Saffers in the ODI series.
Sideline Comm.
Guest
Reading Steve Smith's article this morning he suggested they might go with two spinners AND two all-rounders. I don't even know how that would look, considering they have said Khawaja will play, and they can't drop Smith or Voges. Two possibilities. 1.Burns/Bancroft/S. Marsh, 2.Khawaja, 3.Smith, 4.Voges, 5.Maxwell, 6.M.Marsh, 7.Nevill, 8.O'Keefe, 9.Starc/Cummins, 10.Siddle/Fekete, 11.Lyon. OR 1.Burns, 2.Bancroft/S. Marsh, 3.Khawaja, 4.Smith, 5.Voges, 6.Maxwell, 7. Nevill, 8.M. Marsh, 9.O'Keefe, 10.Starc/Siddle/Cummins/Fekete 11. Lyon. This seems unlikely though.
Joey Johns
Roar Guru
I don't think many people watched it due to the absence of Morkel and Steyn...
JohnB
Guest
Glenn, you say that in 2006 victory was automatically assumed and that the series is best remembered for Jason Gillespie's double hundred. Both of those statements are no doubt correct. However, so far as I can see it's only Pottsy who points out that in the first test of that series Australia scraped to a 3 wicket win, having been about 160 behind on the first innings. I'd have thought no Australian side should take Bangladesh lightly in Bangladesh after that. Gillespie's score was so freakish it's understandable it's remembered the way it is, but a couple of Australian performances in that first test were at least as good and possibly better - Stuart McGill took arguably Australia's most forgotten test 8 for (8-108 - while one Shane Warne bagged 0-112) and Adam Gilchrist's 144 out of 269 in the first Australian innings.
QuitWhinging
Guest
Really? Prove it. FFS and people ask what I have against the O'Keefe fanclub. It's ludicrous rubbish like this
Ann
Guest
You will
Ann
Guest
Looks like you watched the Bangladesh and SA series closely Amith
Ann
Guest
Agreed tana, hopefully Khawaja gets a good run as he is a class batsman and a lot of positive comments coming from boof on him so that's great to see, no doubting he is amazing against pace but we will find he is much improved against spin too when he plays Bangladesh
Tana Mir
Roar Rookie
Yes, one of the games in England, Broad was all over Clarke with his aggressive bowling making batting look hard while khawaja appeared to bat on different level by smoking them, then Swan came to bowl and roles were reversed.
Tana Mir
Roar Rookie
Yes, Rogers numbers improved after retirement of Swan. Khawaja I would say is better player of spin than Rogers but thats not saying lot. He is a quality player, playing spin in Aus domestic vs international is a big leap. I'm just hoping he is given at least 10 games to show his class.
Armchair Expert
Guest
I don't have to QW, it's common knowledge behind the scenes.