Time: August 3, 5:30 PM IST
Venue: Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka
Pitch report
Russel Domingo, Bangladesh coach, says it would be a traditional Dhaka wicket. Expect runs to come thick and fast.
Thunderstorms are forecasted on match day. Make sure you check the weather report during the toss and what the captains have to say about the conditions.
Teams
Tamim Iqbal is injured, while Mushfiqur Rahim is unavailable due to 10-day quarantine protocols.
Probable XI for Bangladesh: Mohammad Naim, Soumya Sarkar, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah (c), Afif Hossain, Shamim Hossain, Nurul Hasan (wk), Nasun Ahmed, Mohammed Saifuddin, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam
In the absence of Aaron Finch, Matthew Wade will lead Australia.
Probable XI for Australia: Josh Philippe, Ben McDermott, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, Matthew Wade (c & wk), Ashton Turner, Dan Christian, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
Fantasy tips
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Players to watch out for
Mitchell Marsh had a remarkable time in the West Indies. In the five-T20I series, he smashed 219 runs including three fifties and picked up 8 wickets.
Mohammad Naim will pair up with the devastating Soumya Sarkar at the top. The opening duo laid solid foundations on the Zimbabwe tour: while Sarkar scored 2 fifties, Naim managed a fifty in 3 matches.
In the absence of Tamim and Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan will be the cynosure of both batting and bowling units. In 4 T20Is against Australia, he has scored 143 runs at an impressive average of 35.7 and taken 5 wickets.
In the previous contest between these teams in the 2016 World T20, Adam Zampa was adjudged Player of the Match for his bowling figures of 3 for 23. Given the conditions that suit his style of bowling, he is likely to be among the wickets.
Since his last-over heroics against Andre Russell, Mitchell Starc has been in spectacular form. Although he managed a mere wicket in 4 T20Is, he finished the three-ODI series with 11 wickets.
Shoriful Islam was the highest wicket-taker for Bangladesh on the Zimbabwe tour: his 6 wickets came at a stunning average of 12.8.
Prediction
Australia come on the back of a 1-4 defeat in the West Indies, while Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe 1-2. Both teams will be without a few key players, but Australia are ahead in the head-to-head contests. They have met only in the World T20, with Australia leading the scoreline 4-0.
Given the forms of both teams, the 5-T20I series will be closely fought. Bangladesh, however, do have the home advantage. To make matters worse for Australia, they are carrying a few out-of-form players in the squad.
