We’ve got a lot of respect for Bangladesh as opponent : Marsh
June 20, 2024
Sports desk: Australia captain Mitchell Marsh said that the Aussies are showing Bangladesh a lot of respect as the opposition, and aware that the Tigers can beat any team in favorable condition on a given day.
Bangladesh and Australia will lock horns with each other in their first game of the Super Eight stage of the ongoing Twenty20 World Cup at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Thursday local time.
The Tigers defeated the Aussies in a home T20 International series back in 2021 in Mirpur, winning 4-1.
Although Australia did not send their full-strength team that time, the likes of Matthew Wade, Ashton Agar, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Marsh, Mitchell Starc and Adam Zampa were part of the side who are also playing in this T20 World Cup with Marsh as captain.
Recalling that series, Marsh said Bangladesh are a strong team in this kind of condition and the Aussie skipper showed full respect to the Tigers ahead of their opening Super Eight match.
“Any team in the T20 World Cup who make the Super 8s means they’re obviously playing some good cricket and we know in these conditions that Bangladesh are a strong team. So, we’ve got a lot of respect for them and hopefully we can bring our A game,” Marsh said during the pre-match press conference in Antigua.
“Well, they’ve got a lot of experience, a few young guys and they are a good team. There is a reason they have made the Super 8s. So, we are looking forward to the challenge,” he added.
The last time Australia played against Bangladesh was in the 2023 50-over World Cup in Pune, India where Marsh hammered a superb unbeaten 177 off just 132 deliveries with 17 fours and nine sixes.
Marsh has not gone into full swing mode so far in this T20 World Cup as he scored eight, 18, 35 and 14 in four games of the group stage and the right-hander will be aiming to get back in form in the Super Eight stage, starting from the Bangladesh match.
“It’s a fond memory (177 not out against Bangladesh in the Pune game), but this is a different format in a different country and pretty different conditions. That was a beautiful week in Pune, but we’re obviously looking forward to the challenge of playing against Bangladesh, that’s for sure,” Marsh concluded.
