Pace or spin, onus on batters to meet the challenge

Bangladesh's training session proceeded as usual at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium yesterday, with players first undergoing fielding drills on the centre wicket before moving to the academy ground for net practice.

The only notable talking point was the presence of left-arm spinner Taijul Islam, who is not part of either the ODI or T20I squad for the upcoming series against Australia.

With the first ODI scheduled for Tuesday, attention has increasingly turned towards the nature of the pitches being prepared for the series. In particular, there is growing curiosity over whether Bangladesh will continue with the sporting surfaces used in the recent home series against New Zealand and Pakistan or revert to more spin-friendly tracks.

Taijul's appearance at training only added to the speculation. However, team management sources insisted it was nothing unusual, describing his involvement as a "regular event". Bangladesh's three frontline spinners -- Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain and Tanvir Islam -- also bowled extensively in the nets.

A member of the selection panel suggested Taijul's inclusion may have been at the request of the team management, while another source speculated that he had been brought in to replicate the challenge posed by Australia's left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann, who enjoyed success against Pakistan earlier this year.

The pitches under preparation currently carry a noticeable tinge of grass, particularly the surface earmarked for the second ODI. Whether that grass remains and how much assistance it offers the seamers remains uncertain, with one team management source indicating that a final assessment would be made closer to match day.

"There is grass on the surface and it is going to be somewhat similar to the New Zealand and Pakistan series," the team management source said.

The wicket designated for the first ODI appears less grassy, potentially bringing the spinners into the contest as the match progresses. Given the curators' approach during the last two home series, when they produced balanced sporting surfaces, team management sources indicated there is little appetite to deviate significantly from that formula.

If that proves to be the case, the spotlight will inevitably fall on Bangladesh's batting unit. For years, Bangladesh have often benefited from slow, turning surfaces at home. A truer wicket against Australia would provide a sterner examination of the batters' ability to build innings and score consistently.

Litton Das looked in particularly fluent touch during yesterday's net session, striking the ball aggressively and timing it cleanly. Meanwhile, Tawhid Hridoy arrives on the back of an impressive Dhaka Premier League campaign, alongside Mosaddek Hossain, who has returned to the ODI setup after an absence of almost four years.

Should Mosaddek make the starting XI, either Soumya Sarkar or Saif Hassan may have to make way, with the latter appearing the more likely omission.

Mustafizur Rahman also bowled in the nets yesterday, but much of the focus remains on pace sensation Nahid Rana. After the fielding drills, the fast bowler spent time on the centre pitches going through his visualisation routine ahead of what could be a key role in the series.

Meanwhile, sources close to the Australian camp revealed that another member of the touring party was expected to arrive on Sunday. Whether the addition is a batter or a spinner remains unclear. Australia team management could also not confirm whether Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head will join the squad.

“We will have an update in the morning [Monday],” a member of the Australia team management informed.