Simmons Warns Bangladesh to Expect a Stronger Australia in Second Test

Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons has warned his players that Australia will return with greater intensity in the second Test in Mackay after the visitors stunned the hosts with a nine-wicket victory in Darwin.

Bangladesh arrived in Mackay still celebrating one of the biggest Test victories in their history. However, Simmons has urged his team to quickly move on from the celebrations and prepare for a tougher challenge as Australia look to level the series.

“Australia is going to come harder,” Simmons said on Thursday. “So we have to either keep that level of performance or get a little bit better. Even if we have to get one percent better in some areas, then we will have to make sure that’s there.”

Bangladesh returned to training on Wednesday following an additional day off after their long journey from Darwin. The squad completed an intense three-hour session at Great Barrier Reef Arena, with the fast bowlers putting in plenty of work.

Left-arm seamer Shoriful Islam was among those impressing in the nets and could come into consideration for the second Test. However, Simmons admitted that selecting him would be a difficult decision after Bangladesh's bowlers delivered such a strong performance in the series opener.

“He offers something different. But again, we just won a Test match,” Simmons said. “I'm one who hardly likes to change winning teams. So it's a possibility, but I can't really say.”

Bangladesh's pace attack played a major role in their historic victory, dismissing Australia for 198 in the first innings. Their bowlers maintained pressure throughout the match, while the batsmen produced an equally impressive performance by making 426 across 138 overs.

Simmons believes that long periods of disciplined batting are central to Bangladesh's approach to Test cricket.

“Test cricket is five days; if my team can bat for 11 hours out of those five days, then the other team must be under pressure,” he said.

“For me, that's how I learned in Test cricket. You bat, you get a score. A big first-innings score is always good. Then you put the other team under pressure.”

The coach said he had retained confidence in his players despite a difficult build-up to the Test series. Bangladesh had been bowled out for just 54 by a Cricket Australia XI in their warm-up match after suffering an innings defeat against Zimbabwe.

However, Simmons said the team's work ethic never dropped.

“I've seen the practices, I've seen how we practiced before the three-day game, and I've seen how we practiced the three days before the Test match,” he said. “Even though we made 54, an off day, the work rate didn't change. So it gives me that sort of confidence that the guys want this, and they want to do well.”

Simmons also praised his bowlers for sticking to the plans against Australia's world-class batting line-up.

“You try and be consistent in areas that will test them. And it worked this time. Another day, it might not work,” he said. “But as long as we stick to what we planned and make sure that they're under pressure all the time, that is what we ask for.”

Shoriful could provide Bangladesh with an additional pace option. He has taken 27 wickets in 13 Tests and earlier this year impressed in an ODI against Australia, claiming 6 for 48, including the wickets of Matt Renshaw and Marnus Labuschagne.

Despite the possibility of changes, Simmons remains keen to keep the team grounded following the celebrations of their historic win.

“Bangladeshi people are emotional. I'm not the same, so it's easy for me to control that. It's difficult for them, but I think looking at them today, the guys have settled back down a lot,” he said.

With Australia expected to respond strongly in Mackay, Simmons knows Bangladesh will need another disciplined performance to take a 2-0 lead.

His message to the players is simple: the Darwin victory is already history, and the next five days will demand an even higher level of performance.