The Story
Australia was yet again made to feel the severe pain of playing in the Asian conditions. Bangladesh proved that playing against them at home won’t be an easy deal at all.
Square turners were laid out perfectly and the puffs of dust, rising every time the hard spun ball pitched, choked the batsman for breathing space in the middle.
The visitors went down by 20 runs in the opening Test at Mirpur. The game was a closely fought contest affair, but the Bangladesh bowling attack led by all-around Shakib Al Hasan proved to be a total menace for the Australians.
Same Challenge Awaits
Coach Darren Lehmann knows that the conditions won’t differ much from the Sher-e-Bangla surface. The side is already ready to welcome one exciting change in the form of Steve O’Keefe who earned a call-up to the squad as a replacement for injured Josh Hazlewood.
As of now, it could be easily assumed that there might be a three spinner strategy featuring Nathan Lyon, Aston Agar and O’Keefe. There’s leg spinner Mitchell Swepson in the mix as well, but with call up of O’Keefe, it can be understood that left-arm spinner will be the first choice.
“You are not going to have too many overs bowled by the quicks as the game goes on. We expect the same sort of pitch. And that’s fine, it is what you expect here,” Lehmann added.
“Once we get there we will take a look at the wicket and the conditions and whether we change that or go with one quick or two quicks or three spinners (will be discussed),” Lehmann said. “It really comes down to what we want to set our side up like for the second Test, and the wicket.”
Concerns in the batting lineup as well?
Wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade’s form will be a concern for Lehmann as well. The left hander had managed just nine runs in the first Test apart from giving away 22 byes as a wicket keeper. With another “viable” option in the form of part time wicketkeeper Peter Handscomb readily available, Wade might lose his post potentially if the Australia decide to bulk up batting power at the cost of wicket keeping prowess.
“It is not ruled out with any of the XI really. Of the 14 here, anyone could play,” said the 47-year-old Australian.
The second Test starts on September 4 at Chittagong.