Clouds loom over first Test in Bangladesh
Aug 22, 2017 - 9:42 AM Australia have trained in sweltering heat in Dhaka, with a lack of rain cause for hope that a first Test washout may be avoided.With their tour match cancelled, the 14-man squad took advantage of dry weather on Tuesday and sweated it out for almost three hours.
Steve Smith's men have found themselves playing the waiting game ahead of Sunday's first Test after a waterlogged ground forced the cancellation of their only scheduled tune-up.
Parts of the venue in Fatullah, on the outskirts of Dhaka, were flooded with contaminated water from nearby factories, and it was deemed unsuitable after inspection by the Australians on Monday.
The million-dollar question is whether the Bangladeshi monsoon season will prevent any meaningful outcome being produced during the two-Test series.
Rain and storms are forecast for all five days of the first Test in Dhaka, although the weather has proven to be difficult to predict.
Parts of Bangladesh have also been inundated with floodwater in recent weeks, killing more than 100 people, although the major cities have not been seriously affected.
There is a chance the series could end up being similar to South Africa's doomed tour in 2015 where six out of 10 days were washed out, ending in an inevitable 0-0 series draw.
"It's disappointing that the tour match got called off but there's nothing we can do about that now," spinner Ashton Agar said on Tuesday.
"I'm sure we'll have a good session today. The weather's fined up nicely and we'll be all systems go.
"Everyone's actually raring to get outside. We've spent a lot of time in the hotel so I think we'll really enjoy today."
The Australians will line up for their first Test on Bangladeshi soil since 2006 with a three-day intra-squad game in Darwin the only recent hit-out under their belts.
That has meant precious few opportunities for those on the cusp to show their worth, making it even more unlikely that a dark horse such as uncapped legspinner Mitchell Swepson will be picked in Dhaka.
Left-arm spinner Agar is instead expected to partner Nathan Lyon.
Just one other change is expected from the team that drew with India in the third Test in Ranchi and lost the fourth Test by eight wickets, with Usman Khawaja replacing Shaun Marsh at No.3.
Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins are set to remain the sole pacemen in the absence of injured spearhead Mitchell Starc, while allrounder Glenn Maxwell is expected to hold his No.6 spot.
Source: AAP
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