Australian selectors pick up 15-men squad for Bangladesh Test series

West Australian Bancroft, 22, has been earmarked for a lengthy global career. But actually he is confident because of the latest performances by Bangladesh.

Steve O’Keefe, a distinguished left-arm spinner in the Sheffield Shield, and a man who has remained in the fringes of national selection in the last few years, is likely to be given to shoulder the responsibility as Nathan Lyon’s spinning partner in the dusty tracks of Bangladesh. There is much talk about the young Australian team, but the Bangladesh test captain is dreaming big, keeping confidence high. He claimed five wickets at 23.40 in two unofficial Test matches. “He had a conversation with all the players before we played and said ‘this is nothing more than an opportunity”.

Australia has chosen to rest bowlers Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazlewood ahead of the Australian summer which starts in November.

“It’s going to be a tough tour but hopefully we can prepare well and adapt to the conditions accordingly and have a successful tour”, Smith said of the Bangladesh tour.

Bancroft forced his way into the squad by sheer weight of runs.

The talented right-hander, who scored 150 for Australia A against India A in July, said his form rut 18 months ago helped make him a stronger cricketer and person.

“On that tour he played spin well, fielded brilliantly at bat-pad and his whole demeanour was that of a player who is determined to play Test cricket”. Head coach Darren Lehmann said Khawaja was on the brink of a return past year , after a second outstanding season for Queensland, but suffered a knee injury which sidelined him for nine months. Backed by his domestic credentials in a number of years of honing his skills for New South Wales, his case was convincing enough to overrule the doubts developed after an indifferent debut global tour of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last year.

Several of Bangladesh’s Test players will prepare for the Australia series with a series of “A” matches in India starting this week.

Selectors threw Test lifelines to Usman Khawaja, Joe Burns, Glenn Maxwell and spinner Steve O’Keefe.

Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim is bullish about his side’s chances in their upcoming Test series against Australia, but is still wary of a touring side that is inexperienced yet bursting with talent. The selection of the NSW tweaker over Fawad Ahmed was down to form.

“Stephen did well on the A tour”, Marsh said. “We felt he bowled exceptionally well”, Marsh said.

“I think we’ve got a good mix there and hopefully the guys can go over there and get the job done”.

The squad is largely unrecognisable to that selected for Australia’s unsuccessful defence of the Ashes urn.

Mushfiqur was also wary of the threat of Australia, who find themselves shorn of experience following the retirements of Ryan Harris, Michael Clarke, Chris Rogers, Brad Haddin, and Shane Watson.