Taskin Ahmed Reflects on Milestone Test Series in Australia as Bangladesh Prepares for Darwin Opener
Bangladesh fast bowler Taskin Ahmed has described the opportunity to play a Test series against Australia on Australian soil as a proud and honoured milestone for the touring squad. Ahead of the opening Test in Darwin, scheduled to begin on August 13, the seamer reflected on his long-standing journey, which comes as Bangladesh embarks on its first Test visit to Australia since 2003.
What Happened
Bangladesh has arrived in Australia for a landmark Test tour, marking their first red-ball assignment in the country in over two decades. Taskin Ahmed, who watched Bangladesh’s 2003 tour on television at age eight, previously toured Australia for global events including the 2012 Under-19 World Cup, the 2015 50-over World Cup, and the 2022 T20 World Cup. However, this series marks the first time he will face the Australian national team in an international fixture on their home soil.
Speaking to Cricinfo ahead of the Darwin fixture, Taskin expressed deep respect for Australian cricket and noted that he grew up following legendary Australian fast bowlers. He also mentioned admiring active pacers such as Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, and Scott Boland.
The touring side faced early challenges in their warm-up preparations in Darwin, suffering an innings defeat against a Cricket Australia XI after being bowled out for 54. In that practice match, South Australia seamer Campbell Thompson took 8 for 25, while batter Teague Wyllie scored 130 runs against a bowling attack led by Taskin.
Key Highlights
- Bangladesh is playing its first Test tour in Australia since 2003.
- The opening Test match is scheduled to begin on August 13 in Darwin.
- Taskin Ahmed is set to face Australia in an international match on Australian soil for the first time in his career.
- In their warm-up fixture against a Cricket Australia XI, Bangladesh was dismissed for 54 and fell to an innings defeat.
- Pacer Campbell Thompson registered figures of 8 for 25 for Cricket Australia XI, while Teague Wyllie scored 130.
- Bangladesh enters the tour after a 2-1 ODI series win over Australia in Mirpur two months earlier, though several key Australian players were rested during that contest.
- Seamers Nahid Rana, Mustafizur Rahman, and Shoriful Islam are unavailable for the Darwin Test, with Shoriful potentially in contention for the later match in Mackay.
Why This Matters
This tour marks a significant competitive test for Bangladesh in unfamiliar conditions. While the team registered a 2-1 ODI series victory against Australia in Mirpur two months ago, Taskin acknowledged that performing in away conditions presents a distinct challenge compared to playing at home. Furthermore, bowling lineup adjustments are required for the Darwin opener due to the absence of seamers Nahid Rana, Mustafizur Rahman, and Shoriful Islam.
What to Watch Next
The first Test between Australia and Bangladesh commences on August 13 in Darwin. Following the opening fixture, the tour is slated to continue in Mackay, where pace bowler Shoriful Islam may potentially be in contention to feature.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the last time Bangladesh played a Test series in Australia?
Prior to this tour, Bangladesh last played a Test series in Australia in 2003.
When does the first Test match start?
The first Test of the series is scheduled to begin on August 13 in Darwin.
How did Bangladesh perform in their warm-up match?
Bangladesh suffered an innings defeat against a Cricket Australia XI in Darwin, during which they were bowled out for 54 in one of their innings.
Which Bangladesh fast bowlers are missing from the Darwin Test?
Nahid Rana, Mustafizur Rahman, and Shoriful Islam are unavailable for the Darwin Test, though Shoriful has a chance to play in Mackay.
Source: Crictracker / Cricinfo.