Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto says their recent first-ever bilateral ODI series win over Australia has given the side confidence to compete with Australia in the first Test.
Stylish left-hander Shanto, the most successful Bangladesh Test captain of all time in terms of victories, is also not concerned about his side being bundled out for 54 in the second innings of a warm-up match in Darwin.
“It was a practice match and it can happen,” he said.
“I think we have prepared ourself pretty well and we are confident that we will play some good cricket here.”
The opening Test at Darwin’s Marrara Stadium, which starts on Thursday, will provide bounce and the Australian pace attack poses the biggest threat to Bangladesh’s chances.
But the side has shown against Australia in the home ODI series in June they are not daunted by reputations.
“It gives us a lot of confidence,” Shanto said of the ODI series win.
“It was the first time we beat them and we played on good wickets so that gives us a little more confidence.
“Here it is a different ball game and challenge.
“Bounce is the main thing but in the last few months on home soil we have been preparing bouncy wickets and played ODI series on a bouncy wicket.”
Shanto’s optimism is well founded given Bangladesh’s improvement in Test cricket.
“The last (World Test Championship) cycle we finished seventh and now we are fourth with eight Test matches to go,” he said.
“As a bowling unit we have been doing a great job so if we improve our batting a bit more it will be a great team going forward.”
Bangladesh have a strong bowling unit. Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam, with a record 270 wickets for his country, is a key figure.
Allrounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz, also a spinner, made an unbeaten 109 in the first innings against the Cricket Australia side and is also a force to be reckoned with.
Experienced Taskin Ahmed will lead the pace attack and Shanto tipped 32-year-old quick Ebadot Hossain to also feature.
“I hope if he gets a chance to bowl tomorrow he might do something special,” Shanto said.
“It is a good opportunity for us. It is 23 years since we played here and we are very lucky to come again.
“We want to compete with them and as captain I am pretty confident we will do well.
“As a batting unit there will be a lot of challenges so we have been trying to do a lot of work with the batting. The boys are ready.”
Bangladesh squad : Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (vc), Soumya Sarkar, Shadman Islam, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Amite Hasan, Jaker Ali, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury, Musfik Hasan
