Australian cricket team in Bangladesh in 2005-06

Infobox_Cricket_series_begin
series_name = Australian Cricket Team in Bangladesh in 2005-06
team1_

team1_name = Australia
team2_
| team2_name = Bangladesh
from_date = 9 April
to_date = 28 April 2006
team1_captain = Ricky Ponting
team2_captain = Habibul Bashar
Infobox_Cricket_series_tests
no_of_tests = 2
team1_tests_won = 2
team2_tests_won = 0
team1_tests_most_runs = Michael Hussey (242)
team2_tests_most_runs = Shahriar Nafees (250)
team1_tests_most_wickets = Stuart MacGill (16)
team2_tests_most_wickets = Mohammad Rafique (11)
player_of_test_series = Jason Gillespie
Infobox_Cricket_series_ODI
no_of_ODIs = 3
team1_ODIs_won = 3
team2_ODIs_won = 0
team1_ODIs_most_runs = Adam Gilchrist (108)
team2_ODIs_most_runs = Habibul Bashar (155)
team1_ODIs_most_wickets = Brad Hogg (9)
team2_ODIs_most_wickets = Abdur Razzak (5)
player_of_ODI_series = Brad Hogg
The Australian cricket team ended the 2005-06 season by touring Bangladesh in April 2006. The series was seen as an uneventful way to end the season as Australia, who were twenty points clear of second place in the ICC Test Championship, played a Bangladeshi team who had won one Test match in their cricketing history and were ranked at the bottom, over 100 points behind Australia. Bangladesh, however, wanted to refute comments made by the tourists' captain, Ricky Ponting who told London's "Daily Telegraph" in February ""What I would not have is the minnow nations in the World Cup and the Champions Trophy, and I would not have Bangladesh and Zimbabwe playing Tests at present." On arrival, Ponting pointed out, in support of the home side, that "maybe Bangladesh having Test status will take the game forward". On the back of a three-Test whitewash tour of South Africa, but a 3-2 loss in ODI matches which included the two highest scoring innings of any type of match, Australia came to Bangladesh to play two Tests and three One-day International matches, without any warm-up touring matches.

Bangladesh did gain a first innings lead in the first Test, but eventually lost the match by three wickets, and then conceded a double hundred to nightwatchman Jason Gillespie in the second Test.

chedule

After winning the toss, Habibul Bashar decided to bat and his team initially showed value to Bashar's promise that, despite losing by an innings in both Tests in Australia in 2003, his team would play with conviction. The morning session saw a run rate averaging almost six per over. Opener Javed Omar was caught lbw for 27 by veteran Aussie Jason Gillespie. However, Shahriar Nafees and Bashar then knocked up a partnership that even Shane Warne, who would eventually leave injured with bowling figures of no wickets for 112, could not dismantle - his only chance coming from Adam Gilchrist putting down Bashar for 36 behind the stumps. The pair lasted almost all of the afternoon session, Nafees scoring his first Test century off two consecutive boundaries from Warne, but Brett Lee caught a ball from Stuart MacGill one ball before tea to dismiss the captain. The evening session saw few runs but much wickets as stumps were called at 355 for 5.

Day two began in similar fashion, Bangladesh losing only one wicket in the morning session as Rajin Saleh hit a half-century, but after lunch the team were out for 427 - their second highest total thus far in Test cricket. MacGill picked up a career best of eight for 108 as the last four wickets fell for just 29 runs. Australia took to the wicket with a disheartened spirit, conveyed by Matthew Hayden being lbw for six runs in the third over and Ricky Ponting was trapped the same way for 21. The rest of the team fell thick and fast if it had not been for Adam Gilchrist putting up a fight of 51* as the day closed on 145-6 with the Australians fighting to avoid the follow on. The third day was resumed with Gilchrist and Brett Lee (12) to bat, the latter being the only wicket to fall in the morning. The eighth wicket, aided by Gillespie helped avoid the follow on, with a partnership of 73 in which Gilchrist managed his first Test century for over a year. Stuart Clark came and went for a duck and Gilchrist was caught, leaving the Australians 269 all out and Bangladesh spin bowler Mohammad Rafique with figures of five for 62.

Bangladesh's scores were worse the second time around, as Nafees failed to live up to his previous innings century after making 33, and opener Omar edged to the wicket keeper Gilchrist for 18. Soon the captain was run out for seven and Aftab Ahmed lost his wicket in the final over to see Bangladesh positioned at 124 for 5 at stumps. The fourth day continued in the same vain as Khaled Mashud was bowled for a duck in the second over of the day and both Shane Warne and Jason Gillespie made up for their first innings oversight by bowling and trapping the last five wickets of Bangladeshi for 88 runs, the former improving his previous 0-112 to this innings' 3-28, despite Mohammad Rafique taking three fours off him. Australia started the final innings in the knowledge that they have only twice, in fifty years, managed to pull off a second innings score higher than the first, needing as they did 307 runs for victory. Taking no risks, Australia's openers made a calm 67 either side of the tea break before captain Ricky Ponting came out with seven boundaries and an unbeaten 72 at the close of play. The second wicket partnership stood for 106 before Australian wickets began to tumble with two removals from left-arm slow bowler Mohammad Rafique to leave the team at 212-4, with only their high-scoring skipper and Adam Gilchrist (6*) in the way of their five bowlers at the lower order.

The final morning began poorly for Australia with Mohammad Rafique picking up the wickets of Gilchrist (12) and Warne (5) cheaply to have Australia in trouble at 6-231 still requiring 76 for victory. However, Ponting remained resolute in defence as he uncharacteristically crawled his way towards a century. He was joined by Lee and together they put on 46 for the 7th wicket. But the new ball turned Bangladesh's fortunes and Lee's wicket in the lead up to lunch gave them some hope. Their biggest opportunity came when Ponting skied a pull shot on 98 only to be dropped by Mashrafe Mortaza at fine leg. He proceeded to his 31st test century in the final over before lunch with a cover drive to the fence. Now joined by Gillespie, victory was delayed only by the lunch break. Ponting remained not out on 118. Mohammad Rafique finished with match figures of 9-160. Adam Gilchrist was named man of the match.

econd Test (16-20 April)

Day one started off as Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat but could not repeat their 'heroics' and got all out for 197. Jason Gillespie took 3 for 11 in 5 overs while Test Debutant Dan Cullen takes his first wicket claiming the scalp of Mashrafe Mortaza. Rajin Saleh top scored for Bangladesh with 71. Ricky Ponting also got fined 25% of his match fee for failing to respect an umpires decision and showing dissent due to an unfortunate decision given against the Australia for what should have been a catch but was turned down by the third umpire Mahbubur Rahman.

The Australians took to the crease with about 20 overs left in the day but losing Matthew Hayden near the end of play and Jason Gillespie came in as night-watchman. Day Two started with Phil Jaques along with Jason Gillespie at the crease as Jacques went ahead to get his maiden test fifty for Australia but he got out to an untimed slog sweep at forward square leg for 66. Ricky Ponting came in and batted but then thunder and lightning struck which caused seven hours of play lost and which meant the next three playing days started 30 minutes earlier.

Day Three continued as Ricky Ponting and Jason Gillespie still at the crease as Ponting cruised to his 34th Test Fifty but got run out for backing up too far to run a sneaky single for 52. Michael Hussey came in to steady the ship with Jason Gillespie to make the 93 not out at tea. But the real highlight of the day was Jason Gillespie's maiden Test and First-Class Century coming off 296 balls and also put him into the record books as the third night-watchman to make a Test Century and the longest to stay in as night-watchman having faced 300 balls at 102 not out at tea. At the tea, the day's play was called off as due to rain therefore there was an early finish.

Day Four continued on without any disruptions and the sun had finally broken out with 100 overs to be played. Michael Hussey made his 4th Test Century in the fifth over of the day's play. Gillespie and Hussey pushed on to bat making great progress through the day with Hussey punishing the pacemen while Gillespie took on the spinners with great drives and a couple of magnificent sixes. Gillespie nearly got run out approaching 150 but was just in as Michael Hussey reached his 150 before Gillespie but soon Hussey got out to a mistimed pull to the mid-wicket boundary for a quick 186 at a strike rate of near 90. Hussey and Gillespie made a magnificent fourth wicket partnership of 320 runs. Michael Clarke went into the crease to support Jason Gillespie near tea and he put on 23 not out before captain Ricky Ponting declared. But the real highlight of the day and if not the test was Gillespie's 10 hour stint of 201 not out off 425 balls in which his second 100 came off only 129 balls. His score rewrote the history books as the highest scorer as a night-watchman in Test cricket and the highest score by an Australian against Bangladesh. Ricky Ponting declared just after tea with Australia posting a total of 4 for 581.

ODI Matches

First ODI (23 April)

Limited overs international
batting first

---

|20px
batting first = Bangladesh
score first innings = 195
overs first innings = 47
batting first highest scorer = Habibul Bashar
batting first highest scorer initial form = Habibul Bashar
batting first highest score = 52
batting first highest score balls faced = 93
bowling first best bowler = Brad Hogg
bowling first best bowler initial form = GB Hogg
bowling first best figures = 3/37
batting second

---

|20px
batting second = Australia
score second innings = 6/196
overs second innings = 44
batting second highest scorer = Adam Gilchrist
batting second highest scorer initial form = AC Gilchrist
batting second highest score = 76
batting second highest score balls faced = 46
bowling second best bowler = Abdur Razzak (cricketer)
bowling second best bowler initial form = Abdur Razzak
bowling second best figures = 3/36
winning team = Australia
win margin = 4 wickets [ [http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2005-06/AUS_IN_BDESH/SCORECARDS/AUS_BDESH_ODI1_23APR2006.html First ODI scorecard] , from Cricinfo]
stadium = Chittagong Divisional Stadium
city = Dhaka
country = Bangladesh
umpire1 = Ian Howell
umpire1 initial form = IL Howell
umpire1 country = South Africa
umpire1 country short form = RSA
umpire2 = Mahbubur Rahman
umpire2 initial form = Mahbubur Rahman
umpire2 country = Bangladesh
umpire2 country short form = Ban
MOTM = Adam Gilchrist
MOTM initial form = AC Gilchrist
MOTM country = Australia
MOTM ctry short form = AUS |

econd ODI (26 April)

Limited overs international
batting first

---

batting first = Australia
score first innings = 5/250
overs first innings = 50
batting first highest scorer = Andrew Symonds
batting first highest scorer initial form = A Symonds
batting first highest score = 103*
batting first highest score balls faced = 125
bowling first best bowler = Mashrafe Mortaza
bowling first best bowler initial form = Mashrafe Mortaza
bowling first best figures = 3/54
batting second

batting second = Bangladesh
score second innings = 183
overs second innings = 48
batting second highest scorer = Habibul Bashar
batting second highest scorer initial form = Habibul Bashar
batting second highest score = 70
batting second highest score balls faced = 114
bowling second best bowler = Brad Hogg
bowling second best bowler initial form = GB Hogg
bowling second best figures = 3/34
winning team = Australia
win margin = 67 runs [ [http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2005-06/AUS_IN_BDESH/SCORECARDS/AUS_BDESH_ODI2_26APR2006.html Second ODI scorcard] , from Cricinfo, retrieved 27 April 2006]
stadium = Narayanganj Osmani Stadium
city = Fatullah
country = Bangladesh
umpire1 = AFM Akhtaruddin
umpire1 initial form = AFM Akhtaruddin
umpire1 country = Bangladesh
umpire1 country short form = Ban
umpire2 = Ian Howell
umpire2 initial form = IL Howell
umpire2 country = South Africa
umpire2 country short form = RSA
MOTM = Andrew Symonds
MOTM initial form = A Symonds
MOTM country = Australia
MOTM ctry short form = Aus |

Third ODI (28 April)

Limited overs international
batting first

batting first = Bangladesh
score first innings = 124
overs first innings = 42.3
batting first highest scorer = Rajin Saleh
batting first highest scorer initial form = Rajin Saleh
batting first highest score = 37
batting first highest score balls faced = 102
bowling first best bowler = Brad Hogg
bowling first best bowler initial form = GB Hogg
bowling first best figures = 3/17
batting second

batting second = Australia
score second innings = 1/127
overs second innings = 22.4
batting second highest scorer = Mark Cosgrove
batting second highest scorer initial form = MJ Cosgrove
batting second highest score = 74
batting second highest score balls faced = 69
bowling second best bowler = Abdur Razzak (cricketer)
bowling second best bowler initial form = Abdur Razzak
bowling second best figures = 1/35
winning team = Australia
win margin = 9 wickets [ [http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2005-06/AUS_IN_BDESH/SCORECARDS/AUS_BDESH_ODI3_28APR2006.html Third ODI scorecard] , from Cricinfo, retrieved April 28 2006]
stadium = Narayanganj Osmani Stadium
city = Fatullah
country = Bangladesh
umpire1 = Ian Howell
umpire1 initial form = IL Howell
umpire1 country = South Africa
umpire1 country short form = RSA
umpire2 = Nadir Shah
umpire2 initial form = Nadir Shah
umpire2 country = Bangladesh
umpire2 country short form = Ban
MOTM = Mark Cosgrove
MOTM initial form = MJ Cosgrove
MOTM country = Australia
MOTM ctry short form = Aus |

Notes