Bangladesh are reluctant to take the Australia granted as its players believed that the Aussies will come all guns blazing in order to bury the nightmare of Ashes when they take on them in the two-match Test series in October.The Australian are believed to be in lowest ebb after surrendering the Ashes, losing the fourth Test inside two and half days. Many believed it is Bangladesh’s best chance to extend the agony of the Aussies who hardly have any idea about the Bangladeshi condition. No players in the current Australian squad played a Test in Bangladesh which could give the hosts an edge along with the confidence that they derived from their recent performance.
But Bangladesh’s senior cricketer Mahmudullah Riyad believed the Australia will be hard nuts to crack. “They are such team which could bounce back from any adverse situation. Those who believed that they would be mentally down, I won’t agree with them. They are mentally tough and will be eager to bury the nightmare of the Ashes,” Riyad told the reporters yesterday. Though the practice session for the home series against Australia will kick off on August 22, Riyad along with Test team captain Mushfiqur Rahim started individual practice session yesterday.
While Riyad spent his holiday in Singapore with his family, Mushfiqur visited his home town Bogra. Both of the them came to the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium for the first time after the series against South Africa ended on August 3. Both Mushfiqur and Riyad made a light batting practice in the indoor and later Mushfiqur was seen running some times along with ODI captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza who continued his individual practice session right after the series against the Proteas.
Riyad however said they are confident to do well against Australia as they look to keep up the consistency that they have been showing over the years.
“The big challenge is to keep up the consistency which we have been showing over the years. If we show that same consistency and confidence, I believe we can give Australia a tough fight,” he said. The first Test will be held in Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong from October 9-13 while Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium will host the second Test from October 17-21.