Mehidy Hasan Miraz Gains Confidence with Century Ahead of Australia Test Series
Mehidy Hasan Miraz's Impressive Performance
In Darwin, Australia, on August 7, Bangladesh all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz expressed that his century in a practice match against the Cricket Australia XI has significantly boosted his confidence ahead of the upcoming Test series. The Asian team, which recently faced defeat in an ODI series at home, is set to challenge Australia in a two-match Test series starting August 13, with games scheduled in Darwin and Mackay.
During the warm-up match at Marrara Oval, Mehidy scored an impressive unbeaten 109, helping Bangladesh recover from a shaky start to reach a total of 263. He attributed his success to a shift in his approach, which allowed him to adapt to the Australian conditions.
Mehidy stated, "I focused on building partnerships. Initially, I wasn't aiming to score quickly; instead, I was trying to understand the pitch. Once I settled in, scoring became much easier. That was my mindset."
He further noted that this century would serve as a confidence booster as he prepares for his first Test match in Australia. He emphasized the importance of maintaining the same mindset for both his performance and the team's success.
This series marks a significant moment for Mehidy, as it will be his first Test appearance on Australian soil. Bangladesh has not played a Test match against the reigning World Test Championship winners away from home since 2003.
Currently, Bangladesh holds the fourth position in the World Test Championship standings, with two victories, one draw, and one loss. A successful series could enhance their chances of competing for a spot in the WTC final.
Mehidy acknowledged the challenges of adjusting to Australian conditions, stating, "It was somewhat challenging for me since this is my first experience here. I made an effort to adapt."
The squad for the first Test includes: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Soumya Sarkar, Shadman Islam, Tanzid Hasan, Mominul Haque Showrab, Mushfiqur Rahim, Amite Hasan, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (vc), Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury, Musfik Hasan, and Litton Das.
The series schedule is as follows: First Test – August 13-17, Darwin; Second Test – August 22-26, Mackay.