Bangladesh expect ‘harder’ Australia challenge in second Test, says coach

Bangladesh coach Phil Simmons has cautioned his players to expect a fierce backlash from Australia in the second Test after his side shocked the cricket world with a nine-wicket victory in the series opener in Darwin.

Key points

• With the exception of Steve Smith (71 and 44) and second-innings century-maker Cameron Green, the Australian batting was poor in Darwin.
• Captain Pat Cummins initially informed a news conference that Australia were considering bringing in a ⁠fourth paceman in Scott Boland and leaving ⁠out spinner Nathan Lyon.
• Shoriful, who has taken 27 wickets in 13 Tests, missed the first match due to a ⁠hamstring injury.
• But barely an hour afterwards, office-holders confirmed Lyon was safe after another look at the wicket on the predicted pace-friendly pitch at the Great Barrier Reef Arena.
• So it's a possibility, but I can't really say. Aussies create one change as Lyon retained and Renshaw comes in.

Australian media dubbed their team's defeat last weekend as the "Darwin Disaster", and Simmons remarked his side could not afford to ⁠be complacent when they face the World Test Championship standings leaders in Mackay, starting 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 remarked on Friday.

We have to either keep that level of performance or obtain a little bit better. Even if we have to obtain 1 percent better in some areas, then we will have to produce sure that that's there.

"But we know that they are going to change their game. ‌They are going to come harder at us."

For context, the win in Darwin was Bangladesh's first Test victory on Australian soil and one that Simmons remarked was among the most satisfying results of his long career coaching red-ball cricket.

In practice, the former West Indies all-rounder additionally hinted he was reluctant to alter a winning combination despite left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam pressing for selection after impressing in training.

"He offers something different. But again, we just won a Test ⁠match, " Simmons remarked.

"I'm one. Who hardly likes to change winning teams. So it's a possibility, but I can't really say." Aussies create one change as Lyon retained and Renshaw comes in.

Australia confirmed on Friday they have created just one change to their team for the second Test with Matt Renshaw ⁠coming in at the top of the order for Jake Weatherald. This person was dropped on Tuesday after six underwhelming Tests.

Captain Pat Cummins initially informed a news conference that Australia were considering bringing in a ⁠fourth paceman in Scott Boland and leaving ⁠out spinner Nathan Lyon. This person took 1-125 in Darwin in his first match back after a hamstring injury last December.

With the exception of Steve Smith (71 and 44) and second-innings century-maker Cameron Green, the Australian batting was poor in Darwin. Cummins remarked he was looking for a much-improved performance from the team in Mackay.

"I certainly felt like we didn't play anywhere near our best, and they played really well and they deserved to win, " Cummins remarked.

So, I think it's going back to when we play well. Fortunately we've obtained a decent body of work to look back on.

"I thought our prep was excellent, so I think everyone's in a pretty good nick. So it's just regarding translating our form into actually a good result, " he went on.

Taken together, the developments around bangladesh expect 'harder' Australia challenge in second Test, says coach point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.