Australia v Bangladesh: in a rivalry littered with memorable moments, here are the best

THE wash out in Brisbane shapes as the latest in a long line of weird and wonderful things to happen between Australia and Bangladesh. Here are five of the best.

CHITTAGONG, BANGLADESH - APRIL 19: Jason Gillespie of Australia celebrates his double century during day four of the Second Test between Bangladesh and Australia played at the Chittagong Divisional Stadium on April 19, 2006 in Chittagong, Bangladesh. (Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images)

THE wash out in Brisbane shapes as the latest in a long line of weird and wonderful things to happen between Australia and Bangladesh. Here are five of the best.

1. Dizzy’s Double Hundred:

Teammates could just hear Jason Gillespie laughing to himself in the field. “What are you laughing at?” they asked him. “Me,” he said in reply.

The loveable Australian fast bowler had just scored 201 not out against Bangladesh in Chittagong in 2006, one of the most unbelievable moments in Test history.

Jason Gillespie still talks about his double ton against Bangladesh in 2006.

Going in at nightwatchman, Gillespie somehow morphed into a genuine No.3 batsman. He put on 53 with Phil Jacques, 90 with Ricky Ponting, a mammoth 320 with Mike Hussey and an unbeaten 53 with Michael Clarke.

Gillespie has always said he regretted flying straight from Chittagong to play county cricket, instead of returning home to Australia and soaking up the goodwill and interest over his remarkable innings. It was to be “Dizzy’s” last Test appearance. Australian coach Darren Lehmann was glad he was already retired.

“Thank God (I wasn’t there). He still talks about it.”

Not a bad way to go out in your final Test appearance.

2. Andrew Symonds in Cardiff:

“Australia lost and Symonds wasn’t playing” – that’s the best way Darren Lehmann – who was on deck as a commentator - can sum up the events on June 18, 2005 in Cardiff when Bangladesh pulled off an upset for the ages during a one-day tri-series.

Andrew Symonds’ infamous night on the tiles, which resulted in him being stood down just before the coin toss, sent Australia on a slippery slope towards its first Ashes series loss in nearly 20 years.

Andrew Symonds was stood down after a night on the town before a 2005 ODI.

At first Australian officials tried to pass off Symonds’ absence as “a niggle” then the story changed when Ricky Ponting referred to it as “the flu” in a pre-match interview. Soon after it emerged Symonds was seen stumbling outside the team hotel at 6am, after kicking on from what was otherwise a tame 24th birthday celebration for Shane Watson (who wasn’t playing against Bangladesh). The tipping point so to speak for Symonds was when he knocked over a garbage bin while stretching pre-match, alerting officials he was in no state to be playing. The incident might not have snowballed as it did, only Bangladesh chased down the 250-run target with four balls to spare for their only ever win against Australia.

Mashrafee Mortaza of Bangladesh celebrates the wicket of Matthew Hayden.

3. Symonds and Bangladesh meet again in Darwin:

The beginning of the end for Symonds’ up-and-down career came in 2008 when he was sent home in disgrace from Darwin after electing to go fishing on the eve of Australia’s one-dayer against Bangladesh.

Symonds knew a team meeting had been scheduled, yet he chose to go ahead with the trip he had already organised. There was a pub fight and a radio rant against New Zealand star Brendon McCullum to follow before Symonds’ career finally came to an end.

4. Big Cozzie makes his international debut:

Mark Cosgrove faced Bangladesh.

The man whose weight has made more headlines than his batting ability over the years made the first of only three international appearances against Bangladesh in Fatullah back in 2006. He made 74 and took out man-of-the-match honours in a memorable debut, but no sooner had he hit the scene, ‘baby Boof’ was gone just a few short months later never to be seen again.

5. Guess which country boasts the best all-rounder in the world?

Australia has Shane Watson, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh and James Faulkner, but none of them are the considered the best all-rounder in the world. That honour goes to Bangladesh star Shakib Al Hasan. The 27-year-old has one of the best records in world cricket yet most people don’t even know his name. With six ODI hundreds and 184 wickets at 27 to his name – Al Hasan’s numbers stack up against the very best. The former Adelaide Striker is not overawed by the responsibility of carrying Bangladeshi hopes: “If I think it’s pressure than it’s pressure. If I don’t, than it’s not,” said Al Hasan. “I don’t take it as pressure, I think it’s a positive sign. We’re expected to perform well and if we do that, that’s all we want.”

Shakib Al Hasan of Bangladesh is the world’s best all-rounder.