Mashrafe: Senior players must step up against Aussies
Bangladesh ODI captain Mashrafe Mortaza expects their senior players to play vital roles if they are to topple Australia in the upcoming Test series.
The Tigers will host the Aussies for two Test matches, the first getting underway in Mirpur on 27 August with the second Test scheduled to start on 4 September in Chittagong.
The 33-year-old Mashrafe, who played the last of his 36 Tests in 2009, feels it is important that Test skipper Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah lead the way in the batting department if they want to beat Australia.
ALSO READ: Mushfiqur confident of toppling Aussies at home
Mashrafe told ESPNcricinfo: “I expect our four senior players to put a price on their wicket. They must put up a statement in the middle that the young players can follow.
“Tamim is in the best form of his career. He and Imrul Kayes can provide a good start. We have Shakib and [Mehidy Hasan] in our spin department.
“If one of the fast bowlers have a good spell of three or four wickets, there will be a possibility for us. These will be expected when the situation arises in the match.”
Mashrafe has been part of a national training camp for the last five weeks to prepare for the Australia series and says he can feel the players are more confident in the longest format after encouraging results over the last year.
The Tigers have beaten Sri Lanka (away) and England (home) over the last 10 months and their ODI skipper is expecting big things from his countrymen in Test whites.
Mashrafe continued: “More important than winning or losing is their mentality. I am witnessing in the dressing room that their mindset is setting them apart from previous teams, and they are in the making of bigger things in the next two years.
“It is encouraging enough to think that they will fight, which is a better expectation than only hoping for a result. This has also been their best preparation ahead of any Test series.”
Latest
-
News
On this day in 2018: Australian trio banned after ball-tampering saga
The trio were handed their punishments on March 28, 2018.
-
County Cricket
Surrey stars eager to help Alec Stewart sign off with more silverware
Stewart has guided Surrey to three County Championship wins during his decade in charge.
-
Women's Cricket
Maia Bouchier smashes 91 as England Women seal T20 series victory
England made 177 for three and then restricted New Zealand to 130 for seven.
-
County Cricket
Yorkshire boosted by Harry Brook and Joe Root’s early-season availability
Both players are not at the Indian Premier League.
-
England
Ollie Pope ‘itching’ to get back scoring runs after ‘frustrating’ tour of India
The England vice-captain hit a superb 196 in Hyderabad, but averaged only 14.75 in the next four Tests of the India series.
-
Women's Cricket
Ellyse Perry says Ashes Test at MCG ‘amazing’ but unsure about four-day return
Australia will host England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Women’s Ashes early next year.
-
County Cricket
Harry Brook set to return for start of Yorkshire’s County Championship campaign
Brook withdrew from England’s Test tour of India in January due to personal reasons.
-
England
England spinner Tom Hartley expects his exploits in India to be ‘life changing’
Hartley’s second-innings haul of seven for 62 in Hyderabad delivered one England’s greatest ever overseas victories.
-
Women's Cricket
Heather Knight urges more composure from England after New Zealand collapse
The tourists needed just 29 from 29 balls with eight wickets in hand.
-
Australia
On this day in 2018: Australia ‘sandpapergate’ ball-tampering controversy erupts
The incident led to Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft being banned from playing for Australia.