Bangladesh V Australia, 2nd Test Preview: Hosts Looks to Create History, Attempting a Clean Sweep
Sep 3, 2017 at 5:05 PM
It was an exceptional performance by the Bangla Tigers to beat Australia in the opening Test of the two match series at the Sher-e Bangla Stadium in Mirpur. It was also their maiden Test win over Australia in their 17-year Test history. It was an impressive all-round effort by Shakib Al Hasan which played a pivotal role in the outcome.
Ahead of the series Bangladesh camp had predicted a 2-0 result in their favor and though the Aussie camp was pretty surprised with their opinion given the fact Bangladesh had not won a single game against Australia they would understand why the Bangla boys were so confident ahead of the series.
Bangladesh has been utterly dominant in the last few months especially in home conditions and have beaten Sri Lanka, England, and Australia for the first time in Test matches over the past year or so. Aussies, on the other hand, will be hopeful of coming to all guns blazing and field the best possible XI to level the series.
On the back of impressive fifties by Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan Bangladesh scored 260. They got a lead of 43 runs in the 1st innings after bowling the Aussies out for 217. Shakib was the wrecker-in-chief; finishing with a five wicket haul. Tamim again played well in the 2nd innings as Bangladesh set Australia a target of 265 runs.
It was Shakib Al Hasan’s sensational bowling performance yet again which helped Bangladesh clinch the thriller by just 20 runs. Australia would be now looking to finish the tour on a high and solve all their problems of tackling spin in Asian conditions.
Team News
Australia
The visitors will be contemplating their loss in the opening Test at Mirpur. Despite dominating the majority of their batting in the 2nd innings, Australia failed to chase down the target of 264 runs and fell short by 20 runs. David Warner’s sensational century in the 2nd essay will be a huge boost for the southpaw who has not been a star performer, especially in Asian conditions.
Usman Khawaja played two horrendous shots in the previous match, but he might be given one more opportunity to prove his mettle. The team management might be tempted in giving Mitchell Swepson his maiden Test cap. The leggie will be hopeful of breaking into the XI sooner than later. In that case, Ashton Agar might have to face the axe, but with his batting abilities, Agar might be a superior choice ahead of Swepson.
Captain Steve Smith’s woes against spinners have continued as Mehidy Hasan foxed with his angle from around the stumps. Jackson Bird who is also in the squad might get a game in Chittagong for the 2nd Test starting tomorrow
Predicted XI: David Warner, Matt Renshaw, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (c), Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Wade (wk), Ashton Agar/Mitchell Swepson, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Jackson Bird
Bangladesh
The home team will be oozing with confidence after their maiden Test victory against Australia. The Bangla Tigers has been playing brilliantly across formats especially in their home territory and their victory in the 1st match proved how much they have improved in the last few years. They can gain heart from the fact that their former captain Shakib Al Hasan is in tremendous form and became only the 2nd player after Richard Hadlee to score a fifty and bag ten wickets in the same Test on more than one occasion.
Meanwhile, the rest of the bowlers in the side have also been exceptional, to say the least. They have bowled in the right areas and has allowed the spinners to rest home the advantage from the instrumental turning tracks on offer. The batting department will look to score big and set their hopes for a 2-0 series victory against Australia.
Predicted XI: Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Sabbir Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (c/wk), Nasir Hossain, Mehdiy Hasan, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed