CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh, April 15 - After being on
the brink of an embarrassing defeat in the first test,
Australia will have a point to prove in the second, Bangladesh
coach Dav Whatmore warned on Saturday.
Australia needed an unbeaten century from skipper Ricky
Ponting to grind out a three-wicket win over Bangladesh in the
first test in Fatullah.
"I think the second test is going to be probably harder
than the first test," Whatmore said in a news conference.
"Because the first test gave them a bit of a scare, they
are going to come back very hard. It will be the biggest test
for us."
Bangladesh have won only one of their 43 test matches since
2000, that victory coming over a depleted Zimbabwe side.
The Bangladeshis also lost their first two tests against
Australia in 2003 by an innings.
But Bangladesh skipper Habibul Bashar said the first test
would have given his team confidence to face Australia in
Chittagong on Sunday.
"We will take to the field with more confidence riding on
the achievements of the first test," Bashar said.
Bashar added that while Australia were undoubtedly flagging
after their tour of South Africa, Bangladesh had also had a
tough schedule.
"We are also pretty tired playing Sri Lanka and Kenya in
February and March," he said.