India experience to be handy for Bangladesh challenge, says Steve Smith

Australia will play two Tests in Bangladesh in a series beginning August 27.

Published : Aug 19, 2017 19:25 IST , Dhaka

Steve Smith will not take Bangladesh lightly.
Steve Smith will not take Bangladesh lightly.
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Steve Smith will not take Bangladesh lightly.

Australia captain Steve Smith said on Saturday his team's experience in India earlier this year will help overcome the challenge of Bangladesh in the forthcoming two-Test series.

"I think Bangladesh have played some very good cricket and they won a Test match here not very long ago. So we are seeing it as a big challenge," Smith said in his first press conference in Dhaka since arriving here late Friday amid tight security. "Hopefully we can learn a lot from what we did in India and bring them into the game here and show some improvements," he said.

11-year break

Australia visited India from February to March for four Test matches and despite a 2-1 loss in the series Smith's men were praised for putting up a good performance. Smith led his side from the front, scoring three centuries to become the highest run-getter in the series with 499 runs at an average of 71.28.

Read: Bangladesh announced 14-man squad for first Test

Smith is now leading Australia for its first bilateral Test series in Bangladesh in 11 years. Australia's last visit to Dhaka was with Ricky Ponting's team in 2006, six years after the host was granted Test status. Bangladesh has emerged from that 2-0 series defeat as a decent side, winning its last Test at home and away, respectively, against England and Sri Lanka.

‘Foreign conditions’

Smith said conditions would be the biggest challenge for them in the two Test matches. "The conditions are always quite foreign to us when we come to the subcontinent. The wickets are always different than what we are used to back home. It's definitely going to be a big challenge for us," he said.

The visitors are scheduled to play a warm-up match on August 22-23 before they take on Bangladesh in the first Test at Sher-e Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on August 27. The second Test will be played at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong from September 4. The Aussies will leave Bangladesh on September 9 after the end of two-match Test series.

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