‘They are going to come harder’: Bangladesh brace for wounded Australia in second Test
Bangladesh coach Phil Simmons expects Australia to respond strongly in the second Test after his side recorded a nine-wicket win in the series opener in Darwin.The result was Bangladesh’s first Test victory on Australian soil and was described by Australian media as the “Darwin Disaster”. Simmons said his players cannot afford to relax when they face the World Test Championship leaders in Mackay from Saturday.“The only thing I had to say to them – and I will repeat it anyway – is that Australia is going to come harder,” Simmons said.“We have to either keep that level of performance or get a little bit better. Even if we have to get 1% better in some areas, then we will have to make sure that that’s there.”“But we know that they are going to change their game. They are going to come harder at us.”Simmons said the victory in Darwin was among the most satisfying results of his coaching career in Test cricket.Bangladesh could also retain the same XI for the second Test despite left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam pushing for a return. Shoriful, who has taken 27 wickets in 13 Tests, missed the first Test because of a hamstring injury.“He offers something different. But again, we just won a test match,” Simmons said.“I’m one … who hardly likes to change winning teams. So it’s a possibility, but I can’t really say.”Australia, meanwhile, confirmed one change to their team on Friday. Matt Renshaw will open the batting in place of Jake Weatherald, who was dropped on Tuesday.Captain Pat Cummins had also considered playing four pacers by bringing in Scott Boland and leaving out spinner Nathan Lyon, but the final XI was confirmed after training.Cummins said Australia need to produce a better performance in Mackay.“I think if we play really well and we lose, you feel like you need to do some soul searching,” he told reporters.“I certainly felt like we didn’t play anywhere near our best, and they played really well and they deserved to win. So, I think it’s going back to when we play well.”“I think everyone’s in a pretty good nick. So it’s just about translating our form into actually a good result.”
