Australia coach expects stern test from Bangladesh pacers in Test series

Australia head coach Andrew McDonald believes that Bangladesh's rapidly improving pace attack would be a major threat for them in the upcoming two-Test series at home next month.

He admitted that the visitors possess the bowling resources to trouble his side even in their own conditions.

McDonald singled out fast bowlers Nahid Rana, Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam, describing Bangladesh's pace unit as one of the quickest in Test cricket and warning that Australia's batters would need thorough preparation to counter their challenge.

"They've got a pace attack that, in Australia, could be pretty potent," McDonald told cricket.com.au after Australia's recent tour of Bangladesh, where the hosts secured a historic maiden ODI series victory over the visitors.

"We're going to have to do our homework. I know it's a different format but it's probably a great connector in terms of just seeing how their bowlers go about it and getting a look at their actions."

McDonald recalled Nahid Rana's impressive spell in the opening ODI in Dhaka last month, when the tearaway pacer claimed 4-41 to help Bangladesh lay the foundation for the landmark series triumph.

"Rana got us in the first game, didn't he? Sometimes that can be sight unseen as well-we hadn't had a look at him and he comes in with a different action," he said.

The Australia coach also defended his team's ODI series defeat, pointing to Bangladesh's outstanding record at home in recent months.
"I think they are a good team, and I think that's the thing that's probably lost in it all after we do lose a series to Bangladesh for the first time. In their conditions they've won five ODI series in a row, so they're a good team there," he added.

According to CricViz data cited by cricket.com.au, Rana has been Test cricket's fastest bowler since making his debut in March 2024, while Bangladesh and Australia have fielded the two fastest pace attacks in the longest format over the same period.

The article also noted that Bangladesh rested Rana, Taskin and Shoriful for the recent one-off Test against Zimbabwe in Harare, a match they lost by an innings and 85-run after fielding a depleted pace attack.

Despite praising Bangladesh's seam bowlers, McDonald believes Australia's batting depth and spin department could prove decisive in the two-match series, particularly if veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon recovers from a hamstring injury.

"I think for any touring team, runs are always a challenge. We've seen in Australia in recent times that even our team's been compromised in the runs column with the surfaces that we've played on," McDonald said.

"Our fast-bowling attack is pretty handy also. So if you lived in a world where their bowling attack is handy and ours is a little bit better than handy, then runs is going to be where that series is won or lost."

Bangladesh will begin their first bilateral Test tour of Australia in 23 years with the opening Test in Darwin on August 13, followed by the second Test in Mackay from August 22.    �"BSS