BAN vs AUS 2026, BAN vs AUS 2nd T20I Match Preview

Big Picture: Australia back on track

After falling short in the ODIs, Australia’s bounced back in style against Bangladesh in the shortest format and will now look to latch on to this momentum, to secure the T20I series on Friday. Cooper Connolly continued his fine form from the last ODI, in which he made 149, to score another quickfire 47 in the first T20I. He struck the ball sweetly down the ground, finding seven boundaries including three sixes. There will be a few concerns about the rest of the batters as Connolly had little support from Tim David and Matt Renshaw.

The bowling, however, was spot on, particularly from their spinners as Adam Zampa and newcomer Joel Davies. They put Bangladesh under pressure. Renshaw and Nikhil Chaudhary were almost amongst the wickets too, as Australia grabbed nine wickets with spin.

Bangladesh’s batters were guilty of going for too many big hits. They made a strong start in the powerplay but all their main batters (except Shamim Hossain who got out to a superb delivery) fell while trying to hit sixes. Stand-in captain Towhid Hridoy and Soumya Sarkar were the most senior batters in the line-up, but both failed to give the middle order enough support.

Shoriful Islam once again struck early though he was a bit expensive. Debutant Abdul Gaffar Saqlain took two wickets towards the end, but the home side will look for vast improvements in the second game.

Form guide

Bangladesh LLWWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)

Australia WWLLW

In the spotlight: Abdul Gaffar Saqlain and Cooper Connolly

Bangladesh’s search for a pace-bowling allrounder isn’t quite done yet, even though they gave a T20I cap to Abdul Gaffar Saqlain in the first match. Saqlain is a bustling cricketer who bowls plenty of cutters mixed with his seam-up deliveries, apart from being a big-hitting batter down the order. Bangladesh sent him to No. 6 for match-up purposes, but it didn’t really work out. It is early days for Saqlain, who later picked up two wickets. He is likely to be given couple of more chances to get settled in the team.

Cooper Connolly has now played two match-winning knocks for Australia on this tour. He made 149 in the third ODI in which he fought off cramps and Bangladesh’s late fast bowling onslaught. Connolly also made 47 in a tricky 132-run chase in the first T20I. Travis Head and Cameron Green returning to the T20I side at some stage will have a bearing on Connolly’s future, but he has already given a strong suggestion that he can make the No. 3 position his own with his array of shots and ability to withstand tough conditions.

Team news

Bangladesh have big calls to take regarding their bowling attack as they have Nahid Rana and Taskin Ahmed at their disposal. Litton Das continues to be monitored for his left calf injury.

Bangladesh (probable): 1 Saif Hassan, 2 Tanzid Hasan, 3 Soumya Sarkar, 4 Parvez Hossain Emon (wk), 5 Towhid Hridoy (capt), 6 Shamim Hossain, 7 Mahedi Hasan, 8 Abdul Gaffar Saqlain, 9 Rishad Hossain, 10 Shoriful Islam, 1 1Mustafizur Rahman

Australia could continue with the same combination in the second T20I, but an additional batter may not hurt their cause.

Australia (possible): 1 Mitchell Marsh (capt), 2 Josh Inglis (wk), 3 Cooper Connolly, 4 Tim David, 5 Matt Renshaw, 6 Nikhil Chaudhary, 7 Joel Davies, 8 Xavier Bartlett, 9 Nathan Ellis, 10 Spencer Johnson, 11 Adam Zampa

Pitch and conditions: Less pace, more turn

There will be more turn than pace and bounce in Chattogram. Bangladesh found out the hard way that the pitches will be good enough for a 160 or 170 type total due to the 2:00pm start. Rain will likely stay away from the match hours on Friday.

Stats and trivia

At 28 years and 123 days, Abdul Gaffar Saqlain becomes the fifth oldest cricketer to make their T20I debut for Bangladesh.

Australia’s spinners took nine wickets for the first time in a T20I innings. It was also the first instance of spinners taking nine wickets in T20Is in Bangladesh.

Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84

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