Bangladesh v Australia – 1st Test, Day 1: More Subcontinental Blues For Warner

 

Bangladesh 260 (Shakib Al Hasan 84, Tamim Iqbal 71, AC Agar 3/46, PJ Cummins 3/63, NM Lyon 3/79), Australia 3/18 (Shakid Al Hasan 1/3, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 1/7)

Stumps Day 1

 

Once again Australian captain Steve Smith will have to shoulder much batting responsibility as Australia slumped to 3/18 having to bat out the final 9 overs of the opening day of the two Test series. Somewhat shamefully, it’s the first time Australia have played Bangladesh in a Test since 2006, the Gillespie double ton game in Chittagong.

 

Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim won the toss and given the dryness of the pitch in Mirpur, 10kms from Dhaka’s CBD, and his arsenal of tweakers, he had no hesitation in electing to bat. But he didn’t count on a fired up Pat Cummins, a slippery opening spell from the New South Welshman saw him claim three wickets, reducing the Tigers to 3/10. As he proved in his long awaited return to Test cricket in India, Cummins knows how to bowl in subcontinental conditions, his skill as much of an asset as his pace. Look out England this Summer if his body holds up.

 

The home team were extremely bullish about their chances before the series started, and needing someone to stand up after that disastrous start, were well served by their best two batsman in Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan, who showed their class in a 155 run stand for the 4th wicket. Tamim was patient and worked extremely hard for his runs, though attacked Nathan Lyon brutally at one stage, hitting three sixes from the off-spinners bowling. Shakib, arguably the best all-rounder in world cricket, batted with style, equally adept facing Cummins and Hazelwood as he was taking on the Australian spinners.

 

It was Glenn Maxwell, unable to get a bowl in Australia’s ODI team in recent times with Travis Head’s offies being preferred, who broke the partnership, a delivery that kicked up more than Tamim had expected saw the opener caught at backward point. Nathan Lyon claimed the big wicket of Shakib, putting the tourists back on top with the Tigers at 5/188.

 

Some useful contributions from the lower order saw Bangladesh reach 260. Lyon ended up with 3/79 off 30 overs, while Ashton Agar contributed with three wickets. While clearly a project player being developed for future subcontinental tours and maybe more, Agar bowled with good flight and trajectory and got sharp turn and bounce at times. With his good batting and brilliant fielding, Agar is worth persevering with. Was a tough gig getting thrown to the wolves, debuting as a 19 year old in an Ashes series.

 

260 seemed an ok score. It could turn out a very good score. David Warner’s struggles in Asia continue, looking all at sea when the home team turned to spin. Mehidy Hasan Miraz had him given out LBW to a ball Warner had clearly edged. The review spared the opener, only for him to play back to the same bowler the very next ball, this time the LBW decision wasn’t worth reviewing. Khawaja, recalled in place of the axed Shaun Marsh, had another brain fade, attempting a ridiculous single before having to turn around and regain his ground. He fell short, and while an obviously talented batsman, big questions remain about his cricket smarts. Nathan Lyon was sent in as nightwatchman and lasted five balls, LBW to Shakib.

 

Renshaw, on 6, and Smith, on 3, will resume tomorrow with much work to do on an already friendly for spin pitch. Day 1 was an engrossing day of Test cricket. Bangladesh are no longer an easybeat, particularly at home. Whatever the result, the next 3-4 days will be extremely hard fought.

About Luke Reynolds

Cricket and Collingwood tragic. Twitter: @crackers134

Comments

  1. Thanks for the report, Crackers.

    Renshaw is proving to be one out of the box. A lot of maturity for one so young.

  2. Punx ... Peter says

    Yesterday was a great days Test cricket. Aussies 6 for not much right now … game on. Thanks for the report Luke.

  3. Thanks Luke it seems like Warner is like sands thru the hour glass so are the days of our lives another failure re sub continent.Seriously fed up re the stupidity re cricket lack of proper warm up games re touring sides caused by 20 20 and greed a win for a visiting side will be a rare rare occurrence

  4. Luke Reynolds says

    Cheers Smokie. Really like Renshaw. Reminds me of ML Hayden. But getting his opportunities earlier.

    PZ- absolutely ripping day of cricket. Showcased why Test cricket is still the best format.

    Rulebook- almost impossible for touring teams to do well these days with such a lack of tour games.

  5. Well played L Reynolds.
    Are you busy in the next week or two?
    Reckon we could squeeze in someone who values their wicket and bowls the offie.

  6. Good onya Luke.

    Warner is a worry. On Australian pitches, against second rate attacks he’s unstoppable. However once he gets on the big jet airliner, then leaves the antipodes, he’s another player.

    It’s not just the sub continent he struggles in, i wouldn’t mind seeing his overall statistics away from Australian scores. One ton overseas ?

    He’s almost becoming Graham Hick like, a flat track bully who is out of his depth away from home. He’s had a lot to say recently, especially during the industrial dispute. It would be nice if his bat could speak for him because, sadly, he’s talking the talk but the only walk he’s walking is the one back to the pavilion.

    Khawaja ?

    Agar, Handscombe, Renshaw give us hope for the future. An important attribute they have is cricket smarts.

    Glen!

Leave a Comment

*