Australia have a big task in front of them when they enter the third day of the opening Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka today. Follow all the day’s action from the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium from 2pm (AEST) right here on The Roar.
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There was always that niggling fear that this Australia’s tour of Bangladesh was never going to be an easy one despite the obvious disparity in the rankings between the two sides.
Bangladesh had usurped England and beaten Sri Lanka recently and with Australia’s issues in the subcontinent having made headlines almost every time they toured, the series had an interesting feel to it.
Two days into the first Test match, Australia might not quite be facing down the wrong end of the barrel, but the Bangladesh gun has already been loaded and the shot could well be taken soon enough if things don’t change for the tourists.
Australia looked to have got themselves into a reasonable position when they bowled Bangladesh out for 260 after having lost a crucial toss, but their woes against spin came back to haunt them late on day one and throughout day two.
Having lost David Warner to lack of turn and Usman Khawaja to a very avoidable run-out, Steven Smith led the procession on the second day.
Once Smith had yorked himself to a Mehedi Hasan delivery, two of the more inexperienced men in the line-up, Matt Renshaw and Peter Handscomb, did bail the tourists out of trouble, at least for a short time.
The duo added 69 for the fourth wicket and for a while it even seemed like Australia had a chance of going past the Bangladesh score.
But as is so often the case on pitches like these, one wicket brings another. And then another couple.
Handscomb was trapped in front of the stumps to one that didn’t turn from left-arm spinner Taijul Islam, and Renshaw nicked Shakib-al-Hasan to first slip. When Matthew Wade’s nine-ball innings was ended by Mehedi Hasan, the tourists had slipped to 6/117.
Fighting efforts from Ashton Agar and Pat Cummins helped them cross the 200-run mark but there was only so much they could do and Bangladesh went into their innings with a 43-run lead.
By stumps on day two, Australia had plucked out the wicket of Soumya Sarkar but the Bangladesh lead had extended to 88.
Another 200 or so more runs from here on and Bangladesh will be firmly in the driver’s seat on a surface that’s resembling the landmine Australia faced in the first Test on their recent tour of India.
The only difference was that Australia had batted first in that game and they will be chasing in this one.
Can an Australian bowler stand up, much like Steve O’Keefe had in the first innings of that game, to allow them a shot at chasing down a reasonable score?
Or will the likes of Tamim, Shakib and co. take the game away from the Aussies on day three?
Follow the live scores and commentary of the third day of the first Test between Bangladesh and Australia from 3pm (AEST) here on The Roar.
Don Freo
Guest
Hang on. It wasn't 50 byes. That's gotta be a bonus.
Don Freo
Guest
Even Ussie isn't giving Ussie a chance.
Don Freo
Guest
Love the order of hope there. Wade last.
Don Freo
Guest
Agar?
Ashek
Guest
Australia 231 (2nd innings) Bangladesh win by 33 runs
Jameswm
Guest
Nah odds in our favour now. We've taken the sting out. 2 quick wickets always makes it tougher. Still Handscomb, Maxi, Agar, Pat and Wade to come. Lose no more than 1 in the first hour and we're definitely on top.
Johnno
Guest
getting 150 runs and 8 wickets to spare on a "day 4 pitch" in Asia is not easy at all. Game is at a knife-edge..
Matt h
Guest
Regardless of the result, it was good to see some fight. And some luck - that stumping off Smith was desperately close. What a contrast for Warner and Khawaja. Warner showed, finally, an ability to adapt to conditions. Khawaja continued to show that he has no clue in Asia. Interesting dilemma, what to do about Khawaja. It may well depend on whether Australia wins this test. If they win then they would consider themselves able to carry Khawaja with a view to continuity for the Ashes. If they lose this test, then if they select Khawaja, they are basically showing they are happy to risk losing this series to assist their Ashes prep. I'd still have this 65/35 in the host's favour. It just takes one wicket in these conditions to cause a collapse, it's so hard to get started. At the beginning of this innings I was dubious about the ability of the team,other than Smith to cobble together 150, and that should still be the case.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Right on Brownie, good work with the goal kicking to.
ozinsa
Guest
Fancy offering me some money on Bangas? One wicket and it's back to even money. Both these guys and Bangas are favourites. Both need to get started again tomorrow so an early wicket is probable.
Ben Brown
Guest
I don't who Ross is lol. All I can say is nobody seems willing to give Khawaja, who hasn't played a competitive match in 7 months, a chance.
craig
Guest
Great strength? I like your confidence - I would have thought the odds were still in the Banga's favour, so much depends on these two in the first hour tomorrow.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Australia will not only take away a lot of positives into day four of this Test but also will take a few things away on how to bat in the sub-continent. David Warner, in particular, has had issues batting in the sub-continent but this has been an innings of the likes he usually plays at home - except it's come on a surface that's been his usual nemesis. He has captain Smith for company, who was involved in a tight stumping decision off the first ball he faced, and was later dropped at short-leg as well. Since then, however, he has looked much more solid and done his bit well, even as Warner was going about his business at the other end. Australia will consider themselves favourites going into day four - bookmakers have them down at $1.5 to win this now - but will know that one wicket could bring two or three for Bangladesh. Back tomorrow for the fourth day's play.
doogs
Guest
He is batting brilliantly. Looks so composed
doogs
Guest
Maybe but at least they are a strong chance.
doogs
Guest
magnificent partnership Warner and Smith. Best innings I have seen from Warner in Subcontinent. Very controlled and still scoring high percentage. These two have been the backbone the last few years. Love to see them carry it through. Test is beautifully poised. Also cudos to Lyon. Bowled magnificently for 9 wickets in this test. Well done mate
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
A single off the last ball of the Taijul Islam over means Australia will end the third day's play at 2/109 from the 30 overs they have played. And if one were to look at this as a standalone day, it's belonged to Australia. First they managed to restrict Bangladesh to 221 and then, despite the loss of two early wickets, have brought themselves into a position of great strength.
Not a tweetotaler atgm
Guest
After all that drama looks like an easy win for Australia now
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Taijul Islam takes over the bowling and Warner immediately greets him with a couple of runs through the covers. 74 for the opener.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Single from the Shakib al Hasan over. Every now and then there is a delivery that does something but it's not as consistent in troubling the Aussie batsmen as it was earlier. 2/106 in 29.