Bangladesh eye rare ODI win over depleted Australia

DHAKA: Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz said his side want to make the most of a rare opening against an understrength Australia when the teams begin a three-match one-day international series in Mirpur on Tuesday.

Australia have arrived without captain Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head, while stand-in skipper Josh Inglis said his younger group was determined to respond after losing an ODI series 2-1 to Pakistan earlier this month. Mehidy said Bangladesh were upbeat heading into the contest despite their poor overall record against Australia, having won only one of 22 ODIs against them.

Speaking ahead of the opening match, Mehidy said Bangladesh had not faced Australia for a long time and viewed the series as a significant chance. He also said the team was carrying momentum after winning three straight series against West Indies, Pakistan and New Zealand. According to the Bangladesh captain, home conditions could also work in his side’s favour, although he stressed that Mirpur should not automatically be seen as a difficult batting surface.

Inglis acknowledged that the absence of Marsh and Head was a setback, but said the tour also offered an opportunity to test combinations before the World Cup. He said several younger players would benefit from exposure to local conditions. Inglis, who featured in the Indian Premier League this year, added that Australia would assess the surface closer to the toss and said recent matches suggested conditions in Bangladesh could offer more help to seam bowlers than expected.

Both captains identified Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain as a player who could have a major say in the series. Inglis noted that some Australian players already knew Rishad from the Big Bash League and said the visitors would prepare specifically for him.

Australia make squad changes

Cricket Australia confirmed on Monday that Marsh and Head will miss the ODI leg of the Bangladesh tour, having also sat out the series defeat in Pakistan. Marsh is recovering from an ankle injury, while Head has been granted personal leave. Leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha has also been ruled out of the three-match series because of a hamstring injury sustained during the second ODI against Pakistan.

National selector Tony Dodemaide said Sangha would take no further part in the tour. He said Australia had hoped Marsh would be available for the Bangladesh ODIs, but the captain was still returning to full fitness. Dodemaide also said Head, who had originally been picked for both the ODI and T20I legs of the tour, had subsequently been granted leave for both.

Marsh is still due to travel to Bangladesh as he targets a return during the subsequent Twenty20 series. Teenage batter Ollie Peake and hard-hitting Matt Short, who had initially been scheduled to return home after the Pakistan tour, will now remain with the squad. Off-spinner Todd Murphy, who has played seven Tests but is yet to make his limited-overs debut for Australia, has been brought in to cover for Sangha.

The teams are scheduled to play ODIs on June 9, 11 and 14 before meeting in a three-match T20 series.