Visiting Australia Cricket team coach Darren Lehmann on Tuesday said that they were surprised with the pitch of the ongoing Chittagong Test against Bangladesh but he was happy that his charges made a great performance.
On the second day of the match, Australia, who lost the first Test in four days in Dhaka, had their best day in the tour as they were on 225-2 at stumps replying to hosts 305 in the first innings.
The pitch seemed an opposite of the turner of Dhaka, where the first Test took place, but Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon wrapped up the hosts with a seven-for before David Warner and Peter Handscomb remained not out on fifties.
Their century stand put the visitors on the driving seat in their must win match and that made their coach content.
‘It is more of a traditional subcontinent wicket,’ said Lehmann after the end of day’s play.
‘From the first Test it’s a totally different wicket. But that’s not our choice. If that’s what Bangladesh want to do, that’s well within their rights.
‘I thought it would turn more, no doubt. They obviously beat us on a pretty big turner in the first Test but it’s played pretty well so far. I think it’ll break up and still turn as the game goes on,’ said the former Australian batsman.
Bangladesh started the day on 253-6 with their skipper Mushfiqur Rahim on but off-spinner Lyon, who grabbed five wickets on first day, removed him quickly for 68 and later folded the innings by picking last man Taijul to return with a magnificent 7-94.
Lehmann was ecstatic with his premier spin bowler, who grabbed nine wickets in the first Test.
‘It was fantastic. Obviously he›s just getting better and better in these conditions. Changing his variations and growing and growing as a bowler. He›s really growing as a leader in our pack, if you like, in these conditions,’ said Lyon.
‘He’s made subtle changes – I think he said ‹bowl ugly› – and that›s what he›s been prepared to,’ Lehmann said about Lyon, who surpassed Richie Benaud in the last match to become the second most successful Australian spinner in Test after Shane Warne.’
Australia lost their opener Matthew Renshaw for four but Warner, who made a century in Dhaka, kept things in their favour by adding 93 with Steve Smith before adding 127 with Handscomb.
Warner, normally known as an aggressive batsman, remained calm to be not out on 88 but Handscomb, who might keep wicket in the match instead of off-form Matthew Wade, impressed his coach most.
Lehmann thought fielding Handcomb only as a batsman and keeping faith on Wade was a master stroke.
‘If he did it that way he probably couldn›t bat as high,’ Lehmann said regarding Handscomb wicketkeeping.
‘At the end of the day he›s picked to bat No 4 or No 5 for Australia and we want him making runs. I thought Matthew Wade answered his critics really well in this game – a great stumping, a couple of catches, so that was pleasing for Matthew as well.’
-With New Age input
