Bangladesh Aim to Capitalise on Australia’s Injury Woes in 1st ODI at Mirpur

The first of three-match ODI series will be held in Mirpur on June 9 between Bangladesh and Australia. With Bangladesh and Australia preparing for future ICC events, this series is a massive opportunity for both teams — particularly with some advantage to the latter given they are playing at home where they’ll want to feast on a weakened Australian side.

The visiting team have major selection issues arriving in Dhaka. Australia will miss regular captainMitchell Marsh, explosive opener Travis Head and legspinner Tanveer Sangha from the series,while All-rounders Cameron Green and Marcus Stoinis have been ruled out due to injury. Missing are a few crucial match-winners which leaves the tourists diminished and adds to the loads on some senior players.

The home series is an opportunity for Bangladesh to carry forward their excellent record in the conditions which they are very much familiar with. The Mirpur surface is historically a spin-friendly wicket and the hosts will be firmly relying on their experienced spin attack to trouble the Australian batting line-up. This is their best opportunity yet to gain an edge and will be relying on their top-order batters to give them fluent starts and set the tone against an Australian side that are having to adjust across a number of changes.

Nonetheless, Australia remains one of cricket’s superpowers in One Day Internationals and have enough good players to withstand the blows of illness. The pace attack and a middle-order batting unit is what might be important for them to counter the tough conditions in Dhaka. Visitors will also look to test their bench strength ahead of a packed International schedule.

The first ODI is set to be a competitive match as Bangladesh look to register the first win of the series but for Australia, they will aim to prove their strength in depth that has seen them become one of the world’s powerhouse cricket nations. Home advantage on one side and Australia’s famous fighting spirit of an underdog, gives what promises to be a good encounter in Mirpur.

First one-day will be played at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, Dhaka The three-match series starts from June 9 and ends on June 14.