OZ look for series win in 2nd ODI (Preview)

Preview

2nd ODI

Bangladesh versus Australia

Venue: Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur

Start Time: 09:00 (IST)

Bangladesh loss to Australia on Saturday resembled a same pattern where home team’s spinners bowled well but fast bowlers and batsmen, virtually, failed to deliver nothing. This has been perennial problem for them as rarely they get all three facets of their together in any form of cricket. Hence a poor record against big teams.

What has crippled Bangladesh’s progress over the years is ability of batsmen to pace their innings in ODI cricket. Batsmen, middle order in particular, seem to have only two ways of batting, going for big shots or block. There is no in-between approach to the proceedings as urge for hitting the gaps and running hard between the wickets seems to be not there.

For Bangladesh to do well consistently in ODI cricket there batsmen need to learn how to construct the innings in the middle overs.  Australian skipper Michael Clarke demonstrated that with a beautifully paced century, Bangladesh young batsmen would have learnt so many things watching Clarke’s approach to the batting. Bowling, fast bowlers, in particular also need to take their game to another level if they have to have bring home glory in any format of the game.

On the other hand, Australia, under new captain, played a nearly perfect game on Saturday with Clarke leading from the front thanks to century. Clarke’s magnificent batting effort was efficiently backed by bowlers who never let Bangladesh batsmen to go after them and had a god day in the office. There was tons of positive energy on the field and intent was admirably even though they were playing relatively a weaker opposition.

Australia will have its eyes on a whitewash and there will be no let up in their aggression and intent on the field on Monday as Clarke would want to make a statement to his detractors that he wants business.

Bangladesh will again bank on their spinner for giving them a chance to win while Australia would want their middle order to come to party as they have struggled against spinners in the past.

You needn’t be a genius to guess what pitch at Mirpur is going to be on Monday-slow and will offer some turn in the later stages of the game. Win the toss and bat first kind of a pitch as batting in second innings gets a touch difficult with ball holding up in the surface.

Bangladesh

It will be again dashing Tamim Iqbal who Bangladesh will rely upon on giving the team good start but he needs support from other batters to put a decent total on the board.

Young Bangladesh batsmen have promised a lot displaying flashes of brilliance but fail to play big innings that is the reason for poor batting of their team in recent times.

Shaqibul Hassan, skipper, lends a stability to the middle order but other need to rally around him and make sure they put a huge price tag on their wickets which they haven’t done in the past.

Seasoned all-rounder Mashrefe Mortaza who missed the world cup due to an injury bowled a good first spell on Saturday but taken for plenty in his last spell clearly showing he is yet to find his rhythm. He needs to be a leader for young fast bowlers and perform well with ball and bat to make things difficult for Australian.

Sohrawardi Shuvo was the best bowler on Saturday as he choked Australian batsmen in the middle overs by claiming three wickets and conceding very few runs and looked the part. Bangladesh will want him and his fellow spinners to provide breakthroughs in the middle overs to put Aussies under pressure.

SQUAD

Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Tamim Iqbal (vice-capt), Mashrefe Mortaza, Imrul Kayes, Shahriyar Nafees, Raqibul Hasan, Alok Kapali, Shuvagoto Hom, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah, Abdur Razzak, Sohrawardi Shuvo, Rubel Hossian and Shafi-ul Islam

Australia

Australian team management will not have as many issues to address as Bangladesh after Saturday’s performance. Skipper was amongst the runs and that too a century of top pedigree. Former skipper Ricky Ponting playing his first ODI only as a player after captaining the side for nearly nine years was at his flamboyant best before losing his wicket through run out and he will be keen to make a big score this time around to send a message across that he has some years of cricket still left in him.

Michael Hussey also played a good hand but what will be worrisome for Australia is how woefully out of form Cameron White is as it took him 50 balls to reach 20 runs. White is under severe pressure to perform and if a good innings eludes him again his place in Australian side could well be handed over to new talent, many of them waiting in the wings.

Bowling looked alright with fast bowlers bending their backs on a slowish Mirpur track and getting wickets upfront. John Hastings’s reputation as a bowler is on a rise and looks to one for the future and he would be keen continue to perform well so that he cements his spot in the Australian side for a longer period.

Left arm spinner Xavier Doherty was very impressive with tight line and length and having over his variations.  A good show in Bangladesh will have a lot of bearing on his career as Australia is yet to find a spinner who fits into the scheme things for the longer run.

SQUAD

Michael Clarke (capt), Shane Watson, Brad Haddin (wk), Ricky Ponting, Cameron White, Mike Hussey, Callum Ferguson, Tim Paine (wk), Steve Smith, Mitchell Johnson, John Hastings, Brett Lee, Xavier Doherty, James Pattinson