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The Bangladesh National Cricket Team is set to play its first Test match against the Australia National Cricket Team after 23 years, at the MCG 2 in Darwin. Ahead of the Test match, the Bangladesh captain has hinted at the possible playing XI against the hosts and also provided an update about the veteran wicket-keeper batter Litton Das.
Litton Das missed out on the ODI series against Zimbabwe after he failed to recover from a left calf injury. Now, ahead of the Australia series, he has recovered and was seen doing keeping drills and also taking slip catches during their practice session on Tuesday. The veteran batter has been a reliable force in the middle order for the Bangla Tigers.
Litton Das to play in 1st Test against Australia
Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto provided the update that Litton Das is fit and he will be featuring in tomorrow’s game against the Aussies. The 31-year-old batter had a small batting session on Wednesday but was mainly seen doing the glovework and taking catches in the middle of Marrara Stadium.
Litton Das, who will come into bat at No.5 or No.6, is Bangladesh's leading Test run-scorer in the past five years. He will look to score more runs in the middle order; being the experienced guy, he will look to guide the team through the innings against the quality bowling attack of Australia if the visitors lose early wickets in the match.
Najmul Hossain Shanto yet to decide on Playing XI
Apart from confirming that Litton Das will be in the playing XI, Najmul Hossain Shanto did not provide the actual playing XI for the Bangla Tigers. He stated that they are yet to decide on their attack until the morning of the matchday. However, he revealed the combination of playing three pacers and two spinners.
"The surface looks good, I think we (might stick with our) normal combination, like two spinners and three seamers," Shanto told a bustling press pack on Wednesday. "But looking at the conditions, tomorrow we'll have a chance to see it again, and then we'll decide tomorrow according to the conditions."
Shanto also provided an update on Ebadot Hossain as the Bangladesh captain was pleased by the pacer’s performances ahead of the injury. He has made a comeback to the squad and has been bowling well and thus is expected to make it to the playing XI on Thursday.
"Ebadot, he's been outstanding before he got injured, and he's coming back," Shanto said. "He's been bowling well. If he gets the chance to play tomorrow, he will do something special for the team."
Shoriful Islam back in Bangladesh squad
Shoriful has been cleared to join the team in Mackay before the second Test, which has given them a further boost. Shoriful had joined the team in Queensland after missing the first travelling group due to a hamstring injury sustained in Zimbabwe last month. He has been declared fit and will possibly make a comeback to the squad.
The Bangla Tigers will be without their best pacer Nahid Rana, who has been ruled out of the Test series. He has been in excellent form throughout this year and picked 11 wickets from two matches in Test cricket.
