Australia
Bangladesh
Australia and Bangladesh will face each other in the first Test of the two-match series at Marrara Stadium in Darwin. Australia will start as clear favourites, with Pat Cummins returning to lead the side after their 4-1 Ashes series win in January. They will also enter the match with a strong WTC record of 7 wins and 1 loss from 8 Tests.
Najmul Hossain Shanto will lead Bangladesh and look to respond after their most recent Test loss to Zimbabwe. They will have won 4 of their last 5 Tests against Pakistan and Ireland, while losing one and winning 4 overall in that period.
Australia will have the stronger head-to-head record, winning 4 of the last 5 Tests against Bangladesh. With home conditions and a stronger WTC record, Australia will be expected to take the lead in the series.
Australia’s pace attack will have the edge in this Test at home, with Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood returning alongside experienced bowlers Scott Boland and Nathan Lyon.
The betting tip is...
Top Bowlers' Team - Australia
72 %
28 %
AustraliaBangladeshPat Cummins will return to lead Australia after an injury-hit period following the Ashes, during which he played only one Test. Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood will all feature in the Playing XI and form a strong playing eleven. The side will have all-rounders like Cameron Green and Beau Webster, while Marnus Labuschagne can all bowl a few overs with Steve Smith.
In recent matches, Travis Head has scored 914 runs at an average of 45.7 in his last 10 matches, while Alex Carey has made 732 runs at 45.75 in the same period. Mitchell Starc has taken 54 wickets in his last 10 matches, and Scott Boland has claimed 26 wickets in his last 6 matches.
Head, Starc and Hazlewood are the key players in the team.
Predicted Lineup: Jake Weatherald, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon
Najmul Hossain Shanto has carried a major responsibility as Bangladesh’s captain and No. 4 batter in Australia. He has been Bangladesh’s most successful Test captain with 8 wins in 19 Tests, surpassing Mushfiqur Rahim’s 7 wins in 34 Tests. The very same duo has scored 800+ runs each in the last 9 tests for Bangladesh.
The side recently also faced concerns after losing their only practice match against the Cricket Australia XI by an innings and 38 runs.
Their batting collapsed to 54 all out on the third morning, putting further pressure on Shanto. Bangladesh also lacked a settled opening pair, having rotated around five combinations in the last 3 years. Litton Das’ return has provided added experience in the middle order and behind the stumps.
Shanto, Rahim and Miraz are the key players in the team.
Predicted Lineup: Shadman Islam, Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud and Khaled Ahmed
Australia will have the stronger bowling attack going into the first Test, with Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood all returning to the side. Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland will add further experience, giving Australia options with both pace and spin. Starc has taken 54 wickets in his last 10 matches, while Boland has claimed 26 wickets in his last 6.
Bangladesh will face further pressure after being bowled out for just 54 in their practice match against the Cricket Australia XI.
Their top order will have a difficult task against Australia’s pace attack in Darwin. With Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood back together, Australia will be expected to take more wickets and control the match through their bowling.
