Shameful reality of Australian cricket snub revealed in Bangladesh battle

Two Australian stars made history at the World Cup, but their task was made easier because of a dark cloud hanging over the match.

As David Warner and Usman Khawaja piled on the runs against Bangladesh, they created a special slice of history.

Their second-wicket stand of 192 from just 142 balls was the highest ever partnership by an Australian pair against Bangladesh in a one-day international. It was an impressive performance but they weren’t up against much competition, because the two countries have only played each other 22 times in the 50-over format.

Before today, the last time Australia and Bangladesh completed an ODI was all the way back in 2011. In an era of packed scheduling where stars play almost all-year round, it’s staggering to think the nations have avoided each other for so long.

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Before their game at Trent Bridge, the last two matches – at the World Cup in 2015 and Champions Trophy in 2017 – were both abandoned because of wet weather. Meetings in the whites have been even less common, with the Aussies and Tigers playing just six Tests since their first encounter in 2003.

Australia and Bangladesh have not played a full ODI match in last 8 years.

They have met twice in last 8 years, both in ICC tournaments and both produced no results.

2017 CT - Rain didn't allow Aus chase the target.

2015 WC - abandoned without toss#AusvBan #CWC19

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) June 20, 2019

Bangladesh was supposed to tour Down Under last year for a two-Test series in the Top End in August and September but Cricket Australia (CA) cancelled it, reportedly for financial reasons because it wasn’t going to bring in enough money.

On Twitter, ESPN Cricinfo journalist Melinda Farrell called it “shameful” Australia has played Bangladesh so few times, saying the Tigers “have been treated very shabbily by CA”. She also said the lack of matches over the past decade was “rubbish”.

“Bangladesh would be more than happy to play. CA are the ones who have cancelled tours,” Farrell wrote.

Iconic Australian cricket commentator Jim Maxwell also lamented the lack of cricket played between Australia and Bangladesh over the years.

David Warner and Bangladesh's Mushfiqur Rahim after Australia’s win.

“If you think about the history between Bangladesh and Australia, it’s not a deep one,” Maxwell said while calling the match for the BBC.

“They’ve hardly ever played in Australia and you can work out the reason for that if you want.

“For a lot of people who support the encouragement of every team that plays world cricket it’s been disappointing the only matches of any significance between Bangladesh in Australia have been in Cairns and Darwin (two Tests in 2003).

“They’ve rarely had the chance, if ever, to play in the summertime.”

Disappointing to lose today but this World Cup was never about which position we finished in - it was about rewriting Bangladesh’s cricketing reputation on a world stage. We’ve showed we can fill stadiums & compete which should be enough for any nation to want to host or tour us.

— Roushan Alam (@roushanalam) June 20, 2019

It’s understandable why matches between both countries were scarce when Bangladesh was just emerging, but it’s no longer the minnow it was, as Isabelle Westbury of The Telegraph

pointed out after a win over South Africa earlier in the World Cup.

“For two decades Bangladesh have been perceived as the slipperiest of banana skins for opposing teams at World Cups, but never genuine contenders. That perception is out-dated,” Westbury wrote.

“Bangladesh have beaten India, South Africa and Pakistan in ODI series over the last four years. They have beaten England more times than they have lost at World Cups, reached the last Champions Trophy semi-finals and have just out-muscled the West Indies in a tri-series.

“They might not be favourites, but they have moved on, and so must our dated perceptions.”

The few Australian supporters in the crowd at Trent Bridge will have left the ground with a deeper appreciation of just what Bangladesh adds to the cricket community. Like most people from the subcontinent, Bangladeshis are mad about cricket and that was on show in Nottingham.

Australia's David Warner, second left, checks the bat of Bangladesh's Mushfiqur Rahim, in green jersey, after their win in the Cricket World Cup match between Australia and Bangladesh at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, Thursday, June 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

The stadium was bathed in dark green and Bangladesh flags were waved at every opportunity. The huge roar that went up when the team’s best player Shakib Al Hasan came on to bowl was as loud as you’d hear when someone scores a century, and the fans made just as much noise when Warner played and missed in the 13th over.

Every boundary off a Bangladesh star’s bat brought a flurry of cheers as Aussie fans were dwarfed in both number and volume.

“There are a lot of tigers in the crowd. Can’t see many kangaroos,” Maxwell said. “There’s a lot of passion in this crowd. I’d say 95 per cent Bangladeshi.”

Unfortunately for Bangladesh, passion wasn’t enough to get the result it wanted over Australia. Its bowlers failed to pose any genuine threats and allowed the Aussies to power their way to 5/381 from their 50 overs as Warner thumped 166 and Khawaja made 89.

With the bat the Tigers made Aaron Finch and Co. sweat but they lost wickets at the wrong times and were always behind the required run-rate. The middle order was left with too much work to do and despite Mushfiqur Rahim’s defiant 102 not out, Australia celebrated its fifth win of the tournament by 48 runs.