**Official** Australia in Bangladesh

[Nate]

I`m thinking Shounak.

 

[Smudge]

You are definitely an ideas man!

An ideas man, maybe, but not a number-cruncher - do you realise how much it would cost to *** up Marc?

 

[Tom Halsey]

Here goes:

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

You may be right. I have only heard Warne so I wouldnt know.

If Murali said disparaging things of Warne, thats in bad taste too. No question about it.

Its just wrong no matter who started it. These guys are far too big to have to stoop to this. They dont need the 'crutches' of other peoples' negatives to support there own unquestioned greatness.

I guess it depends what you consider disparaging. Murali has said things like that Warne hasn't bowled well against India (or alternatively that he has bowled better against India than Warne), and so on. He's never said "that Warne, he's a crap bowler", just small comments. Mostly they have little but praise for one another. In his book for example, Warne goes out of his way to talk about how good Murali is, and when he reminices about breaking a record which Murali later took from him, he'll mention it immediately afterwards and so on. I think mostly they say good things about one another.

Anyway, I apologise for the rubbish comment earlier. I wasn't frustrated or trying to be rude, simply to disagree. Perhaps I came across a bit strong.

 

[andyc]

Did anyone else notice this:

Gilchrist has now hit most number of Sixes in tests.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Bangladesh have played remarkably well. People will talk about Australia's failings, and rightly so, but the whole time I was watching the two Bangladesh spinners bowling earlier, I was comparing it to the treatment Australia got on the two subcontinent tours in 2004. Genuinely, it was comparable. Bangladesh batted well and used the conditions and the lacklustre Australian efforts (which were only bad for one session, really) perfectly, and then they really piled on the pressure. Bashar attacked constantly without leaking runs, and the quality bowling pushed Australia's batsman right on to the back foot.

Australia for their own part looked absolutely shellshocked. Aside from Clarke and Gilchrist, nobody gave appropriate respect to the bowling and the circumstances. They were either too defensive or too aggressive. Gilchrist played a fantastic innings under the circumstances, and kept hopes alive for a competitive score of 250+

I think that the first three Australian wickets were fairly unlucky, particularly Ponting and Martyn who got done in by unpredictable bounce, but the key issue was that after they got a few early wickets, Bangladesh had the talent and the killer instinct to really follow it up with some excellent bowling and keep Australia under pressure. There's no doubt who the more talented side is, and the game is still wide open if Australia can get within 150 or so and then bowl very well, but Bangladesh have to be favourites to win at this point, and that alone is an amazing statement.

The last three times Australia has gone to the subcontinent to play the three major teams of the region, the scoreline has been 3-0, 3-0 and 2-1. That's 1 loss in 11 tests (1 draw). Bangladesh might match that on their first try.

 

[superkingdave]

Did anyone else notice this:

yes, yes they did

 

[marc71178]

could this be match-fixing?

Could it just be the Bangladeshis are playing well?

 

[marc71178]

A ***ed-up Marc?

I'm a whore called Gladys though aren't I?

 

[GIMH]

Bangladesh have to be favourites to win at this point, and that alone is an amazing statement.

The last three times Australia has gone to the subcontinent to play the three major teams of the region, the scoreline has been 3-0, 3-0 and 2-1. That's 1 loss in 11 tests (1 draw). Bangladesh might match that on their first try.

And I think I'm right in saying this is just a 2 Test series?

And so, without getting ahead of myself, if Australia do lose this match, am I also right in saying that would make them the first "Top 8" side to fail to win a series against Bangladesh?

Oh my.

 

[dinu23]

poor Aussies. Whatmore is the man! he's doing to Bangladesh what he did to Sri Lanka.

 

[James90]

could this be match-fixing?

Are you really accusing your belovered homeboys of throwing a match? You'd prefer to think they were rotten cheats with no morals than Bangladesh had favourable conditions and took full advantage of them.

 

[Nate]

I'm a whore called Gladys though aren't I?

Like a fine wine and unlike most of Pamela Anderson, this can only get better with age.

 

[James90]

poor Aussies. Whatmore is the man! he's doing to Bangladesh what he did to Sri Lanka.

I think Richard McInnes deserves a lot of credit for the work he did with the U/19's teaching Enamul Haque Jnr, Shahriah Nafees and Mushfiqur Rahim and developing them for Whatmore to work with.

 

[Xuhaib]

Prediction Time

Bangla to win by 40-60 runs.

 

[GIMH]

Bangladesh to win by an innings and 12 runs

 

[Ikki]

Aussies to win!

 

[silentstriker]

I still think Aussies will win. However, Bangla have at least proven that they deserve a shot, just a chance, to continue to improve.

When does WI play BAN?

Dare I say that it would be an intresting series?

 

[silentstriker]

And also, I want to join in on the


Go Bangla. Like I said, Aus will still win it in the second innings, but Bangladesh have proven that they deserve the chance.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

I still think Aussies will win. However, Bangla have at least proven that they deserve a shot, just a chance, to continue to improve.

When does WI play BAN?

Dare I say that it would be an intresting series?

According to Cricinfo, not until November 2008.

However, the Future Tours Programme has been revised recently, so don't take that as set in stone.