Australia wary of spin in Bangladesh

Australia is wary of the threat posed by Bangladesh’s spinners ahead of their two-Test series starting on Sunday in Dhaka, Glenn Maxwell said.

The Australians have not won a Test series on the subcontinent since 2011, when they beat Sri Lanka 1-0, and have been preparing hard for the slow and turning tracks.

Steve Smith’s team have not played a Test in Bangladesh in more than a decade and their preparations were hampered when their only practice game was washed out because of flooding in Fatullah.

The opening Test at Mirpur will be the first between the countries since Ricky Ponting’s side toured the country in 2006, winning the two-match series 2-0.

Part of the visitors’ drills this time has included batting in the nets without a front pad, a lay designed to emphasise the importance of using the bat in order to avoid leg-before decisions against the slow bowlers.

Despite their lack of match practice, Maxwell, who suffered a heatstroke during training this week, believes the tactic will help the Australians against an upbeat Bangladesh unit, that has won two of their last three Tests.

“If you don’t have the safety of your front pad it makes you get your leg out of the way and actually your bat,” he said.

THE TEST AT MIRPUR WILL BE THE FIRST SINCE RICKY PONTING’S SIDE TOURED THE COUNTRY IN 2006