Australia begins a fresh new chapter in T20I cricket as they take on Bangladesh in the first of a three-match series, commencing at Chattogram on Wednesday. In fact the visitors are bolstered by the return of captain Mitchell Marsh from injury as they seek to regroup after a disappointing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
There are, as expected, new faces and younger players in the Australian squad, but it is also a strikingly future-oriented squad. Created opportunities for the young cricketers to stitch the place in national setup with several senior players – including Travis Head, Cameron Green, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis – absent for various reasons.
Among those looking to catch selectors’ eye ahead of a packed T20 schedule headed by the 2028 Olympics and the next T20 World Cup, jointly hosted in Australia and New Zealand in late 2026/early 2027, are promising all-rounders Cooper Connolly, Aaron Hardie, Nikhil Chaudhary and Joel Davies.
The visitors came here in high spirits after landing a memorable ODI series victory over Australia. Their success in that tournament was underpinned by their pace attack, and they have continued to keep faith with the four-prong fast-bowling core of Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam and Nahid Rana. But management has a selection headache on their hands, all four bowlers being in fine form.
WATCH: Shoriful Islam (Bangladesh): Bowled well to gain three-out-of-four wickets in the last ODI of the series. He also broke many records by taking a 7-wicket haul against New Zealand earlier in the year. Meanwhile, Australia will keep an eye on left-arm pacer Spencer Johnson, whose pace and bounce may prove to be the solution they need to mitigate Mitchell Starc’s retirement from T20 internationals.
Fitness worries in the Bangladesh camp too, Captain Litton Das is a doubtful starter due to injury to his leg during the ODI series whereas Parvez Hossain Emon is recovering from sickness.
The conditions in Chattogram may also play a part with rain expected in the afternoon. Chasing teams have had an upper hand in recent matches played at this venue as none of the teams batting first have successfully defended their total.
Both teams are in transition, which should make for a great showdown of veterans and future stars.
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