Bangladesh faces challenges for Australia Test tour
Key Players to Miss Australia Tour
Bangladesh is set to face Australia in a two-match Test series next month without key fast bowler Ebadot Hossain. The series, part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship, will see Ebadot remain in Bangladesh as he anticipates the birth of his first child. This absence marks a significant challenge for the team as they prepare for the crucial matches.
The Asian side is scheduled to commence the series in Darwin on August 13. Ebadot’s unavailability means the team will need to adjust their bowling strategy for the tour. His role as a pace bowler has been important for Bangladesh in previous outings.
Adding to the team’s concerns, the availability of star pacer Nahid Rana for the opening Test against Australia remains uncertain. Bangladesh is currently awaiting the results of scans on a side injury Nahid Rana recently sustained. The outcome of these scans will determine his participation in the upcoming series.
Despite these setbacks, there is some positive news regarding player availability. Pace spearhead Taskin Ahmed has withdrawn from the Lanka Premier League (LPL) to focus on preparing for the Australia tour. Taskin had been scheduled to play for the Jaffna Kings in the LPL but opted to prioritize the national team’s commitments.
Taskin Ahmed explained his decision, stating that the Australia series is a rare opportunity. He mentioned that playing in the LPL and then immediately traveling to Australia would have hampered his Test match preparations. He emphasized the importance of the Australia series, which is part of the current ICC World Test Championship cycle, over franchise cricket.
The fast bowler had initially considered skipping the T20I series against Zimbabwe to play in the LPL. However, he stayed with the Bangladesh squad after Mustafizur Rahman was ruled out due to injury. This sequence of events further highlighted his commitment to the national team’s preparations.
Taskin Ahmed acknowledged that withdrawing from the LPL involved a financial sacrifice. Nevertheless, he maintained that representing Bangladesh in Australia took precedence. His decision underscores the significance the team places on this tour, which will be their first Test series in Australia since 2003.
Preparations and Team Optimism
Bangladesh is also hopeful that experienced batter Litton Das will recover from a calf complaint in time to feature against Australia. The team is scheduled to arrive in Australia early next month, ahead of a three-day warm-up fixture. This practice match will be against a Cricket Australia XI in Darwin, starting from August 3.
The warm-up contest is expected to provide valuable practice for Bangladesh before the first Test, which will be held at the same venue. Batting coach Mohammad Ashraful expressed his hope for a full squad of players to choose from, highlighting the importance of having all key players fit and ready for the challenging tour.
Ashraful noted that playing in Australia will be tough, but he sees the early arrival as a positive. The team will have 10-12 days in advance to acclimatize to the conditions. This extended preparation period, along with the practice match, is intended to help the team perform well.
While Bangladesh’s pace attack has received considerable praise for the team’s recent strong performances, Ashraful has also shown confidence in the batting unit. Despite a recent struggle in their last Test outing against Zimbabwe in Harare, where they were dismissed for 140 and 185 in a significant defeat, Ashraful believes the batters can rebound.
He pointed to the batters’ strong efforts against Pakistan in May, where Bangladesh secured an impressive 2-0 series sweep. Ashraful stated that the batters performed well over the last seven months, acknowledging that one series can go wrong. He believes there is no reason for the team to be demoralized after one or two losses, especially after gaining experience in different conditions.
The upcoming Test series schedule includes the first Test from August 13-17 in Darwin, followed by the second Test from August 22-26 in Mackay. These matches are crucial for Bangladesh as they aim to improve their current fourth-place standing in the ICC World Test Championship.
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Source: icc-cricket.com
