Bangladesh have options as Mushfiqur, Tanzid return to nets

Bangladesh will go into the second Test with fewer selection worries than they appeared to have 24 hours earlier, after both Mushfiqur Rahim and Tanzid Hasan returned to batting practice today (21 August).

Mushfiqur was struck on the finger during yesterday’s session and had to leave the practice wicket briefly. He returned to bat later that day and again trained Friday, though his workload was reduced.

Tanzid’s recovery was more closely watched. The opener, who made a century in Bangladesh’s nine-wicket win in Darwin, sat out batting practice yesterday because of neck stiffness. He had a scan Friday before returning to the nets.

Captain Najmul Hossain said the final call on Tanzid will come on Saturday morning.

“Tanzid’s situation today was positive,” he said. “Hopefully, he will be fine. We have all kinds of options, so I do not think there will be much of a problem.”

One of those options is Soumya Sarkar. Left out of the XI in Darwin, he spent an extended period batting in the nets on Friday, giving Bangladesh a ready alternative should Tanzid not recover fully.

The uncertainty over the batting line-up comes against a backdrop of a much bigger shift in the series. Bangladesh arrived in Australia without a Test win in the country and left Darwin with a nine-wicket victory, putting them one win away from a series triumph.

Australia have responded by bringing Matt Renshaw into the opening position for Jake Weatherald, while keeping the rest of their squad intact.

Bangladesh, meanwhile, have spent two full days preparing for a Test in conditions unlike Darwin. Mackay is cooler and windier, and the team has used the sessions to adjust to the change.

Najmul said the Darwin result should not dictate how Bangladesh approach the next five days.

“A win will certainly give you confidence,” he said. “But for professional players, it is important to come back from that very quickly.”

The second Test begins tomorrow at Great Barrier Reef Arena, with Bangladesh seeking a series victory and Australia trying to force a draw in the two-match series.