Different Bangladesh, similar Australia challenge

When Bangladesh played their first-ever Test series in Australia in 2003, they were only in their third year as a Test-playing nation and were confronted by one of the most formidable bowling attacks in cricket history.

Australia’s pace battery featured Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and Jason Gillespie, while Stuart McGill led the spin attack in the absence of Shane Warne, who was serving a 12-month suspension after failing a drug test. Bangladesh lost both Tests by an innings margin, with McGrath (five wickets), Lee (six) and Gillespie (11) sharing 22 wickets across the visitors’ four innings.

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McGill was the standout performer, taking a series-high 17 wickets, including three successive five-wicket hauls, to win the Player of the Series award.

Twenty-three years later, the Tigers are preparing for another Test tour of Australia, once again facing a world-class attack featuring Pat Cummins (315 Test wickets), Mitchell Starc (433), Josh Hazlewood (295) and veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon (567).

Unlike the inexperienced side of 2003, Bangladesh now possess significant Test experience. Mushfiqur Rahim has played 103 Tests, while Mominul Haque (78), Najmul Hossain Shanto (42) and Litton Das (54) are also established campaigners. Former opener Hannan Sarkar believes that experience should help Bangladesh put up a stronger fight this time.

Australia had the best bowling attack then, and they still have one of the best bowling attacks now.

"I think the bowling attack that Australia had back then was one of the most dominant in world cricket. Similarly, if you look at their current attack -- Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc -- they are also among the most dominant bowlers in world cricket today. Australia had the best bowling attack then, and they still have one of the best bowling attacks now," Hannan, Bangladesh’s highest run-scorer on the 2003 tour with 166 runs, told reporters in Mirpur yesterday.

"From a bowling perspective, even if you talk about Nathan Lyon, he is a dangerous spinner in Test cricket. So, I believe Australia's strongest bowling line-up is the one that will be playing against us. They will pose a very tough challenge, just as they did in 2003, and I don't expect things to be much different this time."

However, Hannan feels Bangladesh’s batters are better equipped now.

Our batters now know these bowlers well. Back in 2003, we didn't have that knowledge.

"Today's batters are much more aware, and that is a major advantage. Our batters now know these bowlers well. Back in 2003, we didn't have that knowledge. Compared to then, our batters have a much better understanding of them and have had plenty of opportunities to analyse their strengths and gain valuable insights.

"Considering how far Bangladesh cricket has come over the past 23 years, I believe our team will begin the series well prepared. Compared to where we were in 2003, I am confident we can expect much better performances and hope for positive results," he added.

Hannan also stressed the need for discipline rather than “focusing on simply taking the match into the fifth day”.

"What is more important is to approach [the Tests] day by day. That is the key... I think if our batters remain disciplined and pay close attention to that aspect, we will have a good chance of putting up a big total," he concluded.

Tigers' last and only Test tour in Australia

** Australia fielded the same XI in both Tests (Darwin and Cairns), featuring a three-man pace attack of Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and Jason Gillespie, with Stuart McGill as the lone frontline spinner.

** McGill topped the wicket charts with 17 wickets, including three successive five-wicket hauls. Gillespie claimed 11, while Lee and McGrath took six and five respectively.

** Of Bangladesh's 40 wickets lost in the series, pacers claimed 22, spinners 17, while one was run out.

** Only two Bangladesh batters scored fifties. Hannan Sarkar made 76 and 55 in the second Test, while Habibul Bashar scored 54 in the second innings of the Darwin Test.

** In Darwin, Australian pacers took 12 wickets and McGill seven. In Cairns, pacers and spinners shared 10 wickets each.

** Australia's 2003 pace trio of McGrath (563), Lee (310) and Gillespie (259) combined for 1,132 Test wickets, compared to 1,043 so far for the current trio of Pat Cummins (315), Mitchell Starc (433) and Josh Hazlewood (295). Off-spinner Nathan Lyon has 567 wickets in 141 Tests.