Lehmann: Bangladesh have quality batsmen

Australia cricket team coach Darren Lehmann admitted Bangladesh have quality batsman in their side and that the visiting side will find it a challenge to win the away two-match Test series. The tourist practised on Monday morning at the academy ground in Mirpur. Light showers reduced their practice time while the Aussies’ solitary two-day warm-up game, ahead of the first Test in Mirpur starting Sunday, was called off due to a waterlogged Fatullah Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium, the venue for the practice match. “Bangladesh have got some quality batsmen all the way down the list. They actually got a really good record at home. They did well against England. Their top order is key to how they bat. So we have to make early inroads with the new ball. It will spin and probably reverse, the way the wicket goes,” Lehmann told the media at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Monday.

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Also read: Solitary Australia practice match called off

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“They have good depth and are a good side at home. We made some inroads into India but we still lost that series. The challenge for us is to win a series away from home,” he said. Lehmann hinted that Australia are planning to play with two spinners in the Test series as generally, wickets in Bangladesh help the slow bowlers. “Most likely I think we will play two spinners. We obviously haven’t played too much so we know where we want to go. It is a decision we will make after we look at the Test wicket and conditions,” he explained. “I haven’t seen the wicket in Mirpur. It will be a good wicket here traditionally. The outfield will be fine and hopefully the rain stays away. They are really working hard to get it up. That’s all we can ask. We hope that it is dry and we get a great Test match,” he added. Australia named three specialist spinners – leggie Mitchell Swepson, left-armer Ashton Agar and off-spinner Nathan Lyon - for the Bangladesh Tests.

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Agar came back to the squad after four years and Lehmann believes the left-arm spinner can play an important role in the series. “Agar’s lengths are a lot better. He has had a good Sheffield Shield season last year. Young Swepson is a good prospect as a leg-spinner. We have young [Jon] Holland back home who has bowled well. It is really tight between all the spinners. But Ashton batted really well and he is a gun fielder. We are really pleased for him,” Lehmann informed. “We are hoping for Ashton to reproduce that sort of form. He was excellent over there but we have decided to go with Ashton. He has got an all-round game that he hopefully can take to the next level. For example, when we play three quicks, he can play up the order. He gives us a lot of flexibility in that way. “Swepson is the young leg-spinner from Queensland. He rips the ball, spins it big. He has done really well in the domestic scene and toured with us a bit. Depending on the wicket, he might be in for a shot,” he concluded.