Bangladesh shocked Australia in the first Test of their two match series last week and now they will be looking for an overall win when the two sides meet for the second and final time in Chittagong beginning on Monday.
Australia have to find a way to win this match to avoid a humiliating series defeat prior to The Ashes while Bangladesh head to Chittagong knowing that a draw will give them a famous series success.
Bangladesh
It would be incorrect to say that Bangladesh’s performance in the first Test was perfect but they held their nerve better than the Australians at the key moments and ended up deserving of their win. That might have surprised many judges but it was further proof that this is a side who are establishing themselves properly now.
In an ideal world Bangladesh would want to bat better in this match because the odd excellent innings aside they didn’t really offer what they are capable of in that first game but they must take a certain pleasure from the fact that there are things they can improve upon even though they won that match.
Australia
In isolation losing may not be a confidence killer for Australia but losing from the winning position that they had fought so hard to get themselves into certainly will have been. It will be interesting to see if they have the mental strength not just the technical skills to come back and level this series. It will take a big effort from them.
One of the things they are going to have to do is come up with a plan to play the inordinate amount of spin they are going to face in the match. If they can do that you would think they have the weapons and artillery in their own attack to apply pressure to Bangladesh. The hosts repelled it well first time around but are not used to doing it twice.
Team News
Bangladesh are unlikely to make too many changes unless they feel they can go in with an extra batsman. If they do that then Mominul Haque may well come into the side.
Australia will be making changes but Steve Smith has said he wants to see the wicket before officially deciding on his side. Usman Khawaja and Matthew Wade are said to be under threat for their places. Steve O’Keefe could be in line for an amazing recall.
Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium
This will be the 16th time there has been a Test match staged on this ground. Bangladesh have featured in all of them so far with just the one win to nine defeats with five draws. That win was only against Zimbabwe too. Australia have won their only match on this ground.
Scores on this ground are usually in the mid-range of good and average which usually makes for some exciting, tense and dramatic cricket which is exactly what we want to end this series with.
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Betting
This was set up to be a fantastic Test match, one which I’m already on Australia in at a big price having taken the series to end 1-1 before a ball was bowled but sadly from that point of view a look at the forecast for the week does not make good reading.
Rain is forecast on all five days here and that could well put paid to any chance of a result. Of course we would need a fair bit of rain to be certain of a draw but even if there is not as much as forecast everything is going to be sluggish this week and heavy conditions won’t help spinners so the batsmen should be fine. 6/4 is still readily available on the draw and that looks to be the way to play this second Test.
Tips
Back the Draw for a 4/10 stake at 2.50 with William Hill
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