Bangladesh suffer heavy defeat in only warm-up match in Australia

Bangladesh suffered a heavy defeat in their only warm-up match on their Australia tour, losing by an innings and 38 runs after a poor second-innings batting display. Head coach Phil Simmons expressed disappointment but said the team still has three days to prepare for the first Test.

Bangladesh made 263 in the first innings, with Mehedi Hasan Miraz scoring an unbeaten 109, while Najmul Hossain Shanto and Shadman Islam made 37 and 31 respectively. In reply, Cricket Australia XI scored 355, leaving Bangladesh 92 runs behind.Bangladesh resumed their second innings with eight wickets in hand but collapsed for just 54 in 22 overs on the third day. Apart from opener Tanzid Hasan’s 22, none of the batters reached double figures, while Australia XI pacer Campbell Thomson took eight wickets for 25 runs.

Simmons said the team had worked well during the three days before the warm-up but let themselves down with the bat. “The way we got out, it’s not good,” he said, while expressing confidence that the players could correct their mistakes before the Test. Bangladesh will have three more practice sessions before the first Test begins in Darwin on August 13. The match will mark Bangladesh’s return to Test cricket in Australia after 23 years, while the second and final Test of the series will begin in Mackay on August 22.