Bangladesh vs Australia, Live Cricket Score, 2nd Test Day 1: Shabbir Rahaman, Mushfiqur Rahim steadied the innings for hosts after early for of wickets in Chittagong. (Source: AP)
Bangladesh vs Australia, Live Cricket Score, 2nd Test Day 1: Bangladesh 237/6 in final session. Mushfiqur Rhaim and Shabbir Rahaman aim to keep the Aussies from chipping away at the wickets as they have so far. Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur looked to have steadied the Bangladesh ship before the previous played an almost nothing shot to give Ashton Agar his first wicket. Earlier, Nathan Lyon had picked four wickets.
Each of his four wickets came with a leg before decision and saw the ball skid through the surface. The Bangladeshi side has five lefties in six and Lyon has made the most of getting an opportunity to bowl with the new ball to take three wickets in the morning session. Soumya Sarkar scored 33 runs and Mominul Haque scored 31 runs to keep the hosts going. Lyon, meanwhile, struck regularly while bowling round the wicket. At lunch, Bangladesh were 70/3.
TOSS: Earlier, Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bat first in Chittagong. Steve Smith says he would have batted first too had Australia won the toss. Reckons the pitch is too dry. “I certainly would’ve batted first as well. The pitch looks really dry. Lengths with our bowling have to change. We were a bit short in the first innings and that partnership between Shakib and Tamim cost us dearly the last time around,” he says. Meanwhile, toss-winning captain, Mushfiqur Rahim assessed the pitch the same way and says the first Test win is in the past now. “The wicket looks dry so we will bat first. We know the win is in the past. It is a fresh game and the boys are eager to do well; we have to start fresh,” he says.
TEAM CHANGES: One change for Bangladesh – Mominul Haque replaces Shafiul Islam. For Australia, Usman Khawaja and Josh Hazlewood are the two changes. Their place has been taken by Hilton Cartwright and Steve O’Keefe.
TEAMS: Australia XI: David Warner, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith (c), Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell, Hilton Cartwright, Matthew Wade, Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Steve O’Keefe, Nathan Lyon
Bangladesh squad: Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Sabbir Rahman, Mushfiqur Rahim (c/wk), Mominal Haque, Shakib Al Hasan, Nasir Hossain, Mehedi Hasan, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman
PREVIEW: One is in the bag for Bangladesh and dramatically so at that. Another is set to begin, on Monday, in Chittagong to go after a miraculous feat. And miraculous it will be if Bangladesh manage to beat Australia in the second Test of the series having already won the first in Mirpur. The win was the Bangla Tigers’ first ever over a much fancied Australian side. Bangladesh’s previous series wins have come against Zimbabwe and West Indies but beating Australia would take up their credentials up a significant notch. For the visitors, the best they can manage, at this stage, is to level the series even with their team selection under a cloud. The places of Usman Khawaja and Matthew Wade will be up for contention as the Aussies could play three spinners and a seamer for the first time in 40 years. Away from the teams and action on cricket, the weather could play spoilsport and ruin the Aussies’ chances with all five days not looking promising.