Australia can finally get back to playing cricket with the pay dispute over, but it’s going to be a difficult re-introduction, with a tour of the fast-improving Bangladesh kicking off in Dhaka. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage of Day 1 from 2pmpm (AEST).
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The Australians, outside of a frustrating Champions Trophy campaign, haven’t played since their tour of India in March.
That ended 2-1 in favour of India, but Steve Smith’s men performed better than anyone thought they might. Facing the spin-heavy attack, they held their own with both bat and ball and will now look to draw on that experience in Bangladesh, where the pitches are expected to be worse.
In saying that, it’s currently monsoon season and so there could be moisture under the wicket. Monsoon season though, brings with it a whole new type of worry. Australia’s practice match was completely washed away, and there are forecasts saying both Tests in this series could be over before they begin as well.
Bangladesh, formerly a laughing stock of the cricketing world have made inroads over the last 12 months.
Drawn Test series against England and Sri Lanka, as well as a semi-final appearance at the Champions Trophy have all been positive for the sub-continent nation.
Young spinner Mehidy Hasan has been a revelation, while wicket keeper and captain Mushfiqur Rahim along with veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan have kept things in check for the Tigers.
They will have absolutely nothing to lose in this series, and even if they don’t match up to the Australian’s with the bat, their bowling attack is the better of the two.
Australia will need to rely on Nathan Lyon to provide plenty with the ball, especially if their pace bowlers fail to pick up early wickets. Ashton Agar and Glenn Maxwell are likely to be the other spinners picked, which is going to heap the pressure onto the veteran off spinner.
The other concerning element for Australia is having three left-handers at the top of the order in Matt Renshaw, David Warner and the normally horrible against spin Usman Khawaja. With Hasan being a right arm bowler, he could pick up early wickets with ease.
Steve Smith will be the key man for the Australian’s though. Likely to bat at four, the skipper had a wonderful run in India and will need to back it up with plenty of runs here.
In four previous matches, Bangladesh have never beaten Australia and only avoided an innings defeat once, although their last meeting was back in 2006.
Prediction
Unfortunately, the weather looks to have this game in a fair bit of trouble before it even begins. Still, winning the toss and batting will be important, then it will be about playing the conditions and being aggressive.
Bangladesh’s spinners hold the key to their performance, while you’d almost say Australia’s top order – in particular, the three left handers, who will be under pressure from Ball 1.
I can’t see anything other than a draw, but if and when we do get underway, expect the Tigers to make a strong start.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of Day 1 from 2pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Johnno
Guest
good points mate...
Scott Pryde
Expert
Day 2 is live now!
Rob
Guest
How did these blokes get that pay deal? A 12yld would do better at running between the wickets UK. Maybe the pressure got him.
Madjester
Guest
In my professional career (not sporting), mediocrity is rarely rewarded. Why oh Why should the mediocre performances of recent (and current) times have been rewarded with a pay rise. I would have expected greater performance following the strikes and pay rises and dummy spits. Or, am I being smug and naive; expecting too much from our highly paid sports stars too soon?
peter chrisp
Guest
Scott looking forward to the second day which will start pretty soon, this will be an interesting day as the much maligned Wade & Maxwell, it will be a massive "test" for both of these 2 players as their selections over the last year or so have been questionable let's wade sorry wait and see
peter chrisp
Guest
We may have a deep batting line up & a number of times it's gone nowhere, although quite a few people are still on the fence with Wade & Maxwell's inclusion it will be interesting to see how those 2 players will perform
rtp
Guest
Khawaja does not deserve a go. He is putrid against spin bowling and always will be. Warner is ok against spin in Australia but struggles on the SC. Warner is a 50:50 selection in these conditions simply because there isn't anyone obviously better and Khawaja shouldn't even come into consideration.
BurgyGreen
Guest
Agreed. That arm-ball will always get Warner eventually because he's regressed to playing for the turn but most importantly showing no inclination to smother the spin. Using his feet would negate this problem as well as giving him opportunities to get off the mark rather than having to wait for a boundary ball.
Rob JM
Guest
Imagine if we had played the cancelled series with the team that lost to sri lanka. This side has the deepest batting in a long time. Still a good chance to get a good lead.
Jason Rebelo
Roar Pro
Exactly. Warner looked all at sea, was so frazzled he didn't even review his decision, 2 in 2 balls is pretty poor umpiring though. The less said about Khawaja and that "Run" he thought was there, the better. Both of them are obviously very muddled in their mindset, they don't know whether to defend or attack. They're being indecisive, Warner tried some horrible strokes, but got out defending...
Rellum
Roar Guru
Or to have. maybe more than one warm up game. Maybe one that even is four days long.
matth
Guest
Not really, Bangladesh's innings basically went as you would have thought on this pitch. Two of their three top quality batsmen scored runs. Our pace worried them with the new ball and our spinners toiled to restrict the score to par. And no pay dispute on earth is going to make Warner and Khawaja better at playing spin bowling.
matth
Guest
It wasn't rained out. It was schedule by the BCB to take place at a ground where there had been a contaminated ground water seepage issue for a number of months and where there was absolutely no chance that a game could have taken place. It basically denied Australia the opportunity to have a warm up game. The ACB were dumb to agree to the venue, but were swayed by the argument that alternative venues could not provide sufficient security.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
Are we seeing the fallout from the pay dispute? Australia's minds have been elsewhere until the last few weeks. None of us are surprised are we?
Rellum
Roar Guru
Warner needs to use his feet. Play the ball on it's merits but if it is full, dance to the pitch or get to it on the full if you feel confident. His footwork is so static, leaden to use an older term. For me his footwork is a result of his T20 route into the side combined with the easy tee off pitches he gets at home allowing him to use the standard T20 technique of planting the front foot and hitting through the ball. Now I am not saying Warner is an out and out front foot T20 slogger and he can go back onto the back foot when he is comfortable, but that style does not work on spinning decks and he needs to loosen up and start dancing around the crease.
Stephen
Guest
Khawaja is one of our best batsman, so he got run out, it happens, but he needs a proper go in the sub continent
George
Guest
Flat Track will always be praised for attacking though.
jameswm
Roar Guru
What? He's not lucky. He padded it away BECAUSE it pitched outside leg. Good batting.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Khawaja deserves a go, but he had a massive brain fade. We're relying on the Smith-Handscomb-Maxwell trimverate, all of whom we know can play spin in the subcontinent. The jury's still out a bit o n Renshaw, but I'd love him to get it together. The kid's a fast learner. And we could get runs at 8-9 from Agar and Cummins, plus possibly some at 7. We do need some partnerships.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I know. That is why I was surprised he was such a lock to get picked. You are right, those young guys might flourish. They probably won't though. that is my point. I wouldn't think Head would do any better. The other three might, especially Boof Jnr, but he would have the added nepotism pressure.