Australia suffered another middle-order collapse but still managed to earn a valuable 72-run lead on the third day of the second Test in Bangladesh.
At 2-250, with David Warner and Peter Handscomb cruising, Australia were in a position to bat Bangladesh out of the Test before a calamitous run-out brought the home side back into the contest.
By day’s end Australia had creeped their way to 9-377, with their lead looking increasingly valuable as the pitch become more and more difficult for batting.
The Chittagong surface was a road for the first two days, but by the final session yesterday the Bangladesh spinners were earning very sharp turn and some deliveries were shooting through low out of the rough.
It looks like the kind of deck on which Australia will be thankful to have three frontline spinners. That’s not to suggest sole paceman Pat Cummins won’t have a role to play as Bangladesh quick Mustafizur Rahman was able to have a generous impact, taking 3-84.
Rahman took the first wicket of the Aussie innings, having opener Matt Renshaw caught down the legside, and followed up with the dismissals of David Warner for 123 and wicketkeeper Matt Wade for eight.
That continues an awful series for Wade, who has made just 17 runs from three knocks, and kept very poorly in the first Test. If the Tasmanian does not make a meaningful score in the second innings here it is hard to see how he will retain his place for the first Ashes Test, with Peter Nevill and Alex Carey in line to take his spot.
(AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal)
The other Ashes position most obviously up for grabs is at number six and this Test is essentially a shootout between Glenn Maxwell and Hilton Cartwright.
Cartwright started his knock with supreme confidence, playing perhaps the three best shots of the day – a beautifully timed on-drive, a thumping cover drive, and then a huge six lofted out of the rough over long on. It became, however, an innings of style over substance as Cartwright fell for 18 needlessly trying to defend a skidding off-break from Mehedi Hasan which pitched two foot outside off stump.
Maxwell, meanwhile, looked completely out of sorts in his first half hour at the crease, struggling to get off strike.
As his frustration built he played four loose strokes, any of which could have led to his demise. Twice he tried to heave the spinners down the ground – the first shot flew just wide of mid-on for four, the second lobbed not far from the fielder at mid-off. Both shots were badly mishit.
Rather than reining himself in, Maxwell aimed a pair of optimistic back foot slashes at good deliveries slanted across him by Mustafizur. One was dropped at gully, an easy catch, while the other flew to the boundary between gully and the slip cordon, taking Maxwell to 16 from 39 balls.
To Maxwell’s credit, he changed tack and began to play with circumspection as he scrapped his way to 38 from 98 balls before being caught behind off a well-flighted delivery by Mehedi. When Cummins (4) and Agar (22) went not long after, Australia had lost 6-78. This was a replay of their second innings at Dhaka, when Australia subsided from 2-158 to be all out for 244.
Their misfiring middle order will be sternly tested once more in the second innings as Australia try to chase down a total to draw the series. Considering the constant threat posed by Bangladesh’s spinners in the final session yesterday, it looks as though batting last on this surface will be a very difficult task.
Ross
Guest
Best bowling attack in the world
Ross
Guest
Lance I think you are spot on, khawaja will be 3 , smith 4 and handscombe will be keeper wirj both maxwell and Hilton in the side
Ross
Guest
Khawaja will be among the best batsman in the Ashes and I can see handscombe keeping and both maxwell and Hilton can then play
Ross
Guest
HAndscombe to be keeper for Brisbane test
Ross
Guest
Gilly said that handscombe should take over as keeper and I think this would be so good as it allows us to bring in another batsman or all rounder to the side
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
I'd guess Renshaw isn't under any pressure to keep his spot for the Ashes because: a) He averages 63 in Australia b) There are no openers in domestic cricket piling up runs c) He's only 21yo so he may well get more patience from selectors than older batsmen.
Giri Subramanian
Roar Guru
I don't think Renshaw is under any pressure. Even though he hasn't scored too many runs, the youngster has looked the part against the spinners on some difficult wickets. He will obviously do well at home as we saw in the Pakistan series. So the team needs to persist with him and build his confidence. He is a very good young player.
John George
Guest
Oh I am sorry I can imagine you running a fruit and veggie shop (always on the Twitter and Roar forums) If you own a hamburger french fry shop (as I used to) you would not have this time. I am an Uber driver myself
George
Guest
A double-Quiney.
George
Guest
Spot on.
George
Guest
or do you mean the previous India tour?
Lancey5times
Roar Rookie
Small business owner. That's how things go
Disco Stu
Roar Rookie
Wow. Mega positive. Lyon and Cummins are bowling very well. Lyon is 3/14 so far in this innings. Worst team ever? Based on what? Losing in foreign conditions? It's not uncommon. India flog us at home and then struggle over here. England beat us over there and then don't do well here. Bangladesh are not the easybeats they once were. With Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood and Lyon all fit, this would be on par with most attacks. Most of our top order are averaging well over 40. Smith averages about a million.
John George
Guest
360 days per year..I dont believe this I am also a NSW lad (origininally from Baghdad actually) SOK= not a baggy green in waiting, a baggy green who should be dropped like a hot sausage
Matthew H
Guest
Agree, Wade was plumb as, as a batsman you normally think you are not out, but if he thought for a nanosecond that it wasn't plumb then he is really really out of form, and how could Maxwell approve the review? Maxwell was another completely rubbish review as well, smashed that ball onto his pad, keeper took it several inches above the deck... just selfish. In fact this Aussie team really seems to be a selfish lot aside from the youngsters. Not in it to win test matches and series that is for sure.
Lancey5times
Roar Rookie
Would love to mate but I work 360 days a year so trips to the cricket are a luxury I don't get to appreciate. Plus I'm an expat New South Welshman so I would only get up to watch the Baggy Greens in waiting
Matthew H
Guest
If the Bangladeshi batsmen can maintain composure against this very ordinary Australian bowling line up they could get a nice lead and would then be the overwhelming favourites to win this one too. If BAN end up winning this 2-0 then the current Aussie team has to be amongst the worst Aussie teams ever.
Lancey5times
Roar Rookie
Given Tassie's form last season he won't have to do much to stand out
jameswm
Roar Guru
Or pick both with Handscomb keeping.
jameswm
Roar Guru
You mean apart from the ton in the 3rd test?