DHAKA: Lot of clouds, lot of snows gathered over Bangladesh-Australia test series for a while.
The scheduled series was suspended on the excuse of security concern in 2015. The fate of the series was also hanging on a balance till the very last minute for payment disputes. It only got resolved on time for Australian team to prepare for the series in simulated conditions at Darwin in Northern Territory.
The clouds will bring rain; ice will melt to beautify the cricket greens of Sher-e Bangla from today. Two evenly matched teams team tigers and Flying Kangaroos would lock horns.
Bangladesh-Australia have so far played only four tests against each other –two each in Australia and Bangladesh. Excepting the match at Fatullah in 2006 the rest of the matches were virtually one-way traffic. But time and circumstances have changed.
Bangladesh is now a fierce competitor and almost unbeatable in domestic condition. Australia on the other hand is on a rebuilding mission. But all Australian teams everywhere play their hearts out and never say die till death. Hence the series promises presenting mouth-watering contest. Weather permitting the series would witness a keen tussle between willow and the leather.
This writer being Bangladeshi Australian follows tigers and kangaroos wherever they played in recent times. Based on deep analysis the writer wants prescribing the following playing eleven for the first test:
Tamim, Imrul, Mominul, Mushfique ,Shakib, Sabbir , Nasir , Mehedy , Taizul, Shafiul and Mustafiz
There cannot be any semblance of doubt about Tamim and Imrul being the tried and tested best opening partnership in test in the recent time. There is no scope for experimenting with Soumya or Liton in any case against a very strong Aussie pace attack of Hazlewood and Pattinson. Tamim is in blistering form, Kayes is also not lagging behind. But both of them must be very careful against high quality pace attack.
Smith may try Nathan Lyon with few overs early on against the southpaw opening pair. I will not harbor the thought of playing Soumya with Tamim and slotting Kayes at three. This will not serve any good for the moral of young Soumya.
The number three position will go beyond any semblance of doubt to cool like cucumber Mominul Haque. He has class, technique and temperament. Hope the recent episodes centering his discarding and re-entry into the side have not left any scar. The spin vulnerability tag labeled against spin is unfortunate. Has not he played superbly against all attacks at home and abroad in his early years? Any batsman at any stage of his career is bound to struggle which Mominul also went through. He is the most prolific Bangladesh batsman and must not be overlooked. His role in the side is well cut out for providing stability especially when experienced Mahmudullah will be missing from the team.
Mushfiq and Shakib will drive the Bangladesh batting forward from their experience and wide repertoire of stroke play. I would like to play Sabbir and Nasir at six and seven. Both are natural stroke makers and brilliant fielders. Nasir also can chip in with useful spells of off spin bowling. There may be some thoughts of playing Liton as specialized wicket keeper batsman. But with Mushfiq fully fit and performing admirably behind and in front of the wicket we do not find any reason for risking Liton at the expense of a quality all-rounder. Mehedi Miraz will be automatic choice in the team as premiere spin bowling all-rounder.
Inclusion of Taizul would give additional attacking spinning option. I thought a while for a three prong pace attack playing Taskin instead of Taijul. But Australians play pace with ease. Rather Mehedi-Shakib-Taijul-Nasir spin quadrate would present more threats to Aussie batting. Shafiul bowls wicket to wicket at deceptive pace and would be handy on slow low wicket. Mustafiz as freak genius can cause issues on any surface at any stage of any match. The issues may be whether Liton or Shabbir who should play at number six. It may be a last minute decision.
Australia will definitely target the ribcage of Bangladeshi batsmen with sustained hostile pace bowling. Liton may come under consideration for his better skills of wicket keeping. But in recent times Mushfiq has also kept brilliantly in different formats of cricket.
Australia may pick the following XI:
David Warner, Matt Renshaw, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Peter Handscomb, Glen Maxwell , Ashton Ager, Matthew Wade, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon and James Pattinsoon
Winning the toss and batting will be the key. The wicket may tend to spin and turn as the match wears on. Team batting well in the first innings will have nose in front.
BDST: 0911 HRS, AUG 27, 2017
SI
