ZCZC
BSP-11
CRICKET-SHAKIB-AUSTRALIA
Tigers now eye to hunt down Australia
DHAKA, June 18, 2019 (BSS)- After grabbing a sensational victory against West Indies, pulling off a second highest chase in World Cup history, Bangladesh are brimming with such confidence that they gave their next opponent Australia an early reminder.
Bangladesh will take on Australia on June 20 at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. Australia remains the only Test nation against whom Bangladesh didn’t win more than one match. Indeed they didn’t win any ODI against Australia in this decade-their only victory came against Australia in 2005 at Cardiff, a venue of this England which is hosting this World Cup.
That time Bangladesh’s win against the then all conquering Australia, boasted with the likes of Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne, Mathew Hayden and so many great players, was termed as the biggest upset in the ODI cricket history. But this time a win against Australia shouldn’t be called as an upset, considering Bangladesh’s performance in this World Cup.
Bangladesh was due to play against Australia in 2015 World Cup, hosted by Australia and New Zealand and 2017 ICC Champions Trophy in England but both time the match was washed out by rain. Australia is the team which however didn’t host Bangladesh to play any bilateral series and quite often refused to tour in Bangladesh showing security concern before touring Tigers land for a two-match Test series in 2017. Bangladesh drew that Test series but no ODI series is played then.
Bangladesh so far played 20 matches against Australia, won just one and lost 18, one match produced no result that came in ICC Champions Trophy in 2017, Bangladesh was bowled out for 183 in that match and Australia was on the way to win with 83-1 in 16 overs before rain washed it out. The Tigers however got a valuable point to reach the semifinal in that tournament.
But that didn’t serve good as they didn’t get the opportunity more often to play against Australia.
This time if rain allows game against Australia, Bangladesh would look to set their record right even though the Aussies are in top form with their bowling line up making carnage against any batting line.
Shakib Al Hasan who led Bangladesh’s sensational victory against West Indies from the front with 99 ball-124 not out insisted that his side is not daunted by their pace attack with two of the top three leading wicket-takers in Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.
He said: “We’ve faced some of the best fast bowlers in the last four matches – every team has at least two bowlers who bowl 140 kph and we’ve coped well so we’re not worried about that. We are a skilled team and we are capable of counter those challenges.”
He however stressed on bringing their A game to beat Australia. “We have to bring up our A game against Australia when we will take them. And only then it can be possible to beat them.”
BSS/SMP/AU/12:30 hrs