Australia vs Bangladesh: 2nd T20I, August 4, 2021, Australia Tour of Bangladesh Match Prediction

Match Predictions

It’s been five and a half years since Bangladesh and Australia played a T20I match against each other. In fact, these two sides have played only four times in the history of T20I cricket – one each in 2007, 2010, 2014 and 2016. Australia are touring Bangladesh for the first time since 2017 and will be only their second T20I against Bangladesh in Bangladesh.

However, this is a crucial phase for both sides ahead of the all-important ICC Men’s T20 World Cup later this year. Bangladesh are coming off a 2-1 series win over Zimbabwe but they will want to test themselves against stronger opponents and this home season will help them do that. Moreover, Bangladesh have just four wins from 10 T20Is since the start of 2020. Bangladesh’s batting has been inconsistent and only two batters have scored half-centuries (total of four) in six T20Is in 2021. The bowling has shuffled around given the injuries and workload management and they’ve been a touch better.

On the other hand, Australia were handed a 1-4 drubbing against the West Indies in the Caribbean. They were without a host of their first-choice players in that series and will continue to remain without them for this series as well. Moreover, Aaron Finch’s injury makes things worse and Matthew Wade will lead the side in the Victorian opener’s absence. Australia’s T20I form hasn’t been the best over the last couple of years. After going through 2019 unbeaten in the shortest format, since January 2020, the Aussies have managed just seven wins from 19 matches. Thus, they will want to set things right ahead of the mega ICC event. Australia’s middle-order batting has been a big worry and that cost them a few games even against West Indies. Meanwhile, the bowling will want to be a touch more consistent.

Overall, Australia may be missing a lot of first-choice and key players. However, they have decent amount of firepower in their ranks to get it past Bangladesh. Thus, they will start this game as favourites. However, don’t count Bangladesh out, they have been a solid white-ball team. Their T20I form may not be the greatest but they can spring a surprise or two.

Summary

Bangladesh and Australia have squared off a mere four times in the history of T20I cricket. All four games have been won by Australia. In fact, each of the four times these two squads faced off, it was in the T20 World Cup. Bangladesh have never played a T20I in Australia while the latter have played a few T20Is in Bangladesh but that was as a part of the T20 World Cup in 2014. Hence, that was the only time they faced Bangladesh in Bangladesh.