Bangladesh face Australia in Test of character

Bangladesh will walk into Marrara Stadium on Thursday facing one of the biggest challenges of their recent Test campaign when they take on Australia in the opening match of a two-Test series.
The Tigers have spent the past several days preparing for conditions that are unfamiliar to most of their players. Now the preparation is over, and the real examination begins.
The build-up has not been without setbacks. Bangladesh's only warm-up match ended in a heavy defeat, with the batting unit collapsing dramatically in the second innings after making 263 in the first. The 54-run all-out performance exposed concerns about the top order's ability to withstand sustained pressure from seam bowling.
But Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has refused to allow that result to define his team's preparation. The message from the camp is that the practice match was a lesson rather than a prediction of what will happen in the Test.
There was at least one major batting positive in Darwin. Mehedi Hasan Miraz's unbeaten century demonstrated that Bangladesh can score runs in these conditions when a batter is prepared to remain patient and resist the temptation to play too many attacking shots.
The return of Litton Das is another significant boost. After recovering from a calf injury, the experienced wicketkeeper-batter has been cleared to play, adding stability to a batting order that badly needs it.
Bangladesh's bowling attack presents a different picture.
Taskin Ahmed is likely to carry a substantial share of the responsibility with the new ball. With Nahid Rana unavailable, Bangladesh have lost one of their most threatening sources of raw pace. The remaining bowlers will therefore need to compensate through accuracy, discipline and sustained pressure.
Australia, however, possess the kind of attack that can expose even small technical weaknesses. Pat Cummins will lead a bowling group that includes Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon. Hazlewood's selection ahead of Scott Boland gives Australia another proven Test fast bowler.
The hosts also have considerable batting experience, meaning Bangladesh cannot expect their bowlers to dominate for long periods. Every opportunity will have to be converted.
For Shanto, the challenge is therefore twofold: lead a team through unfamiliar territory while also producing the kind of batting performance that can give his bowlers something to defend.
The match carries historical significance as well. Bangladesh are returning to Australia for Test cricket after a long absence, while Darwin is hosting a Test in a part of the Australian cricket calendar rarely associated with the format.
The first Test will run from August 13 to 17, with the second scheduled in Mackay from August 22.
Bangladesh know the odds will favour Australia. But the Tigers do not need to dominate from the opening session to make the series competitive. They need to stay in the contest, build partnerships, absorb pressure and take advantage when opportunities arrive.
The warm-up has already exposed their weaknesses.
Now comes the real question: can Bangladesh turn those lessons into resistance when Australia puts them under genuine Test-match pressure?