The first 50-over one-day international between Australia and Bangladesh kicked off in Mirpur on Tuesday, marking the resumption of a bilateral ODI series between the two nations after 15 years. Australia won the pre-match coin toss and opted to take the field first, holding the hosts to bat in the opening fixture of a three-match ODI tour that will also include three T20 games.
The Australian side is led by wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis for the second consecutive tournament, stepping in for regular 50-over captain Mitchell Marsh, who remains sidelined as he recovers from an ankle injury sustained during this year’s Indian Premier League. Star batter Travis Head also opted out of the tour to take personal leave, forcing a reshuffled lineup for the visitors.
Australia’s most recent series, on spin-friendly wickets in Pakistan last week, ended in a 2-1 defeat, but conditions in Mirpur are set to be drastically different for this series. All three ODIs are being hosted at the Mirpur venue, which is expected to deliver pitches that heavily favor fast bowling over spin. To adapt to these local conditions, Australia’s squad features a pace-heavy bowling attack, including seamers Nathan Ellis and Xavier Bartlett, and seam-bowling all-rounder Cameron Green. The selectors also retained middle-order batter Marnus Labuschagne in the starting XI, despite the batter delivering a series of under-par performances against Pakistan.
Bangladesh enters this opening match on a strong run of home form. The hosts have won their last four consecutive home ODI series, defeating Sri Lanka, the West Indies, Pakistan and New Zealand thanks to their consistent strategy of preparing pace-friendly wickets. For the first ODI, Bangladesh named a three-man seam attack led by star quicks Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman, alongside young talent Nahid Rana. The fixture also marks the long-awaited return of batter Mosaddek Hossain to ODI cricket, who takes the field for the first time in the format since 2022.
Full starting lineups for the opening match are as follows:
– Bangladesh: Tanzid Hasan, Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Tawhid Hridoy, Litton Das, Mosaddek Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (captain), Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Nahid Rana, Tanvir Islam
– Australia: Matt Short, Cooper Connolly, Josh Inglis (captain), Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Matthew Renshaw, Liam Scott, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa