Australia is set to face Bangladesh in a six-match white-ball series starting June 9, 2026, marking the first time in 15 years that the two teams will meet in a bilateral ODI series.
Why it matters: This series is a test for Australia, who are missing several key players. Bangladesh, on the other hand, is coming off a strong performance in recent series and hopes to capitalize on their home advantage.
- Australia has not played an ODI in Bangladesh since 2011, when they swept the series 3-0.
- Bangladesh has won their last four home ODI series, defeating teams like Pakistan and New Zealand.
- The absence of Travis Head and Mitch Marsh could impact Australia's performance significantly.
Driving the news: The first ODI will take place at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka. Australia won the toss and elected to field, a decision that reflects their strategy to exploit the conditions.
- The match is scheduled to start at 11:00 AM local time (BST).
- Josh Inglis leads the Australian side as captain in the absence of Marsh and Head.
- Bangladesh's captain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, leads a full-strength squad eager to maintain their winning streak.
State of play: Australia's squad for this series is considerably depleted. They will be without Travis Head, who is on personal leave, and Mitch Marsh, who is recovering from an ankle injury.
- Teenager Ollie Peake has been retained in the squad, expected to gain valuable experience.
- Off-spinner Todd Murphy has been added to the ODI squad, replacing leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha due to injury.
- Bangladesh's fast bowler Nahid Rana is a key player to watch, having taken 16 wickets in his last six ODIs at an average of 17.43.
The big picture: Australia has historically dominated ODIs against Bangladesh, winning 19 out of 21 encounters. Yet, the home conditions in Bangladesh have often proven challenging for visiting teams.
- Bangladesh's recent form includes victories over West Indies, Pakistan, and New Zealand, indicating their growing strength in ODI cricket.
- Australia's last ODI in Bangladesh was during a tour in 2011, which makes this series particularly notable.
- With the World Cup approaching, both teams are looking to solidify their lineups and strategies.
What they're saying: Josh Inglis commented on the challenges posed by the absence of key players, stating, "Obviously you take some big guys out of our squad. But I think the guys that have been playing a lot over the last couple of years have got a fair bit of experience at this level now." He emphasized the importance of younger players gaining experience in this series.
- Inglis also highlighted Nathan Ellis as a key player who has adapted well to various roles in the team.
- Bangladesh's Mehidy Hasan Miraz expressed confidence in his team's ability to perform well on home soil.
By the numbers: The series consists of three ODIs followed by three T20Is, running from June 9 to June 21, 2026.
- Australia's ODI record against Bangladesh stands at 19 wins and 1 loss out of 21 matches, with one no result.
- Bangladesh has won their last four home series, a streak that includes victories against major teams.
- The pitch at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium is known for decent assistance to batters and good bounce for pacers.
What's next: Following the first ODI, the second match is scheduled for June 11, 2026, at the same venue.
- The T20I leg of the tour begins on June 17, 2026, at the Bir Sreshtho Shaheed Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram.
- Australia will look to regroup and adapt their strategies as they face a confident Bangladesh side.
- Fans can catch the series live on various platforms, including Fox Sports in Australia and FanCode in India.