Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has asked his players to keep their focus on the process as they prepare for the second Test against Australia in Mackay.
The Tigers arrive at the Great Barrier Reef Arena with a 1-0 lead after their historic nine-wicket victory in Darwin. That result has lifted expectations, but Shanto does not want Bangladesh thinking about another famous win before they have earned it.
He has repeated the same message throughout the tour: play good cricket and let the result take care of itself.
“We want to play good cricket. We want to play good cricket for all five days of the Test,” Shanto told reporters after Bangladesh’s final training session on Friday.
The captain wants his side to break the match into smaller targets instead of carrying the weight of the Darwin result into a new Test.
“Each day, each session, how well we are playing good cricket is important,” Shanto said. “I think if we follow the process properly, the result will come naturally. So rather than looking at the result, we will try to play good cricket.”
Australia face a different challenge from the first Test. The hosts must win in Mackay to avoid a series defeat, while Bangladesh need only a draw to secure their first Test series victory over Australia.
That pressure could make the temptation to think about the series result even greater. Shanto, however, believes Bangladesh must first reset after the emotional high of Darwin.
“A win will definitely give you confidence,” he said. “But as professional players, it is very important to come back from there very quickly.”
Shanto considers Darwin finished. He wants the players to understand that Mackay offers a new pitch, different weather and a fresh challenge.
“That is now in the past,” he said of the victory. “We have discussed how we can adapt to these conditions. Hopefully, the players will come out of that and start this Test match afresh.”
Bangladesh have spent two full days preparing for the conditions. Shanto said Mackay feels cooler than Darwin and has more wind, but the team now has a better understanding of what awaits them.
“Preparation has been good,” he said. “The weather is a little different. It is a little colder than there, and there is more wind. But I think after two days of practice, everyone has got a good idea.”
The Tigers have also worked through minor injury concerns. Mushfiqur Rahim returned to batting after a finger problem, while Tanzid Hasan resumed training after missing Thursday’s batting session because of neck stiffness.
“Tanzid also batted today,” Shanto said. “Overall, I think tomorrow morning we will be able to make a good decision.”
