‘We just weren’t able to keep him out of the game’: Carey on Rana

When pace is the currency, Nahid Rana is the business. The 23-year-old Bangladesh pace bowling sensation ripped through Australia's batting lineup with raw speed. But this time, there was a fire not usually associated with Rana. It turns out that being smashed for four off a 148kph delivery by Australia skipper Josh Inglis lit a spark within him.

He channelled that fire into a series of seriously fast spells on Tuesday, registering the best bowling figures by a Bangladesh bowler against Australia in ODIs, finishing with four for 41. Most of Australia's batters had little time to react. Australia wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey, who scored 47 in Australia's 86-run DLS defeat on Tuesday, said they were aware of Rana's pace, but experiencing it firsthand was a completely different challenge.

“Yeah, he bowled really well. I think we all knew the pace, but I guess until you face it firsthand—he's a really tall athlete and gets a bit of bounce as well. So yeah, no, he bowled really well, is what I will say. And we've got now a chance to play against him in the next, you know, two ODIs here on Thursday and Sunday, and hopefully, we can keep him out of the series from now on,” Carey told reporters on Tuesday.

“First look at a lot of their quicks for our batters. And clearly, he was a standout tonight with a bit of extra pace, a bit of extra bounce on a wicket that I guess allows that pace and bounce… Our batters now have had a look at their pace attack and spinners as well, and hopefully, we can respond,” he said.

Asked about the aggression Rana brought to the contest, Carey said they knew what to expect but were unable to keep the speedster out of the game.

“We watched his highlights and the aggression of him,” he said when asked whether they expected that level of intensity from a Bangladesh bowler.

“I thought second spell he came back and we knew what to expect, I guess. We just weren't able to keep him out of the game. But that's what you expect as well, is some fast bowlers getting into the contest. So yeah, hopefully, like I said a couple of times, we can change that and keep him out of the series moving forward,” he added.

Rana ensured Australia faced some serious chin music during his hostile spell. The roar and the send-off for Inglis certainly added fuel to the contest and set the tone for the rest of the series. Carey agreed that a bit of intensity and some words exchanged were part of the game, although he said he had not spoken to his captain about the incident.

“Words exchanged? No, I haven't caught up with Josh. No, I think that's—that's what we want in cricket. Yeah, a bit of spice. You don't want to take it over the edge, clearly. But I thought that's two players getting into the contest. So, I don't know what the words were exchanged, though,” he said.