Australia confirm playing XI for the first Test against Bangladesh

Australia have stuck to their tradition of naming the playing XI ahead a day of the match and confirmed their team which will take on the hosts Bangladesh. The Kangaroos will play two Tests on their tour to this part of sub-continent. Bangladesh too are looking confident ahead of the series and is expected to be one heck of a contest.

Usman Khawaja will finally play a game after serving the drinks throughout the India tour. Ashton Agar has also been recalled as expected and will assist Nathon Lyon in a two-pronged spin attack. Agar too will play his first Test in four years when he takes the field on Sunday. Shaun Marsh and Steve O’ Keefe have been dropped from the side that toured India. Hilton Cartwright, Mitchell Swepson and Jackson Bird will warm the benches for this game.

Lead up to the game

Much has been said in the lead up to this all -important clash between Australia and Bangladesh. The hosts for the first time are looking competitive in the longest format of the game and they have left no stone unturned. Mind games are also being played ahead of the first Test at Mirpur.

Recently, Shakib, the Bangladesh all-rounder was confident of clean sweeping the Aussies. When asked Steve Smith about his comment, he was surprised to hear that but didn’t forget to remind the hosts that they have won only 9 out of 100 matches in this format.

Australia, on the other hand, have poor record in the sub-continent and have lost the Test series recently in India by 2-1. Though, the side fared much better than expected as they had India under the pump more than once in the series. Steve Smith and the coach Darren Lehmann would be expecting the same kind of performance from their team as they are expected to win this series easily.

Australia Playing XI: Steve Smith (c), David Warner, Matthew Renshaw, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Wade, Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood