Australia begin their 2026 tour of Bangladesh with the opening ODI of a three-match series at Dhaka, aiming to bounce back from a recent series defeat against Pakistan. Bangladesh, meanwhile, enter the contest with confidence after securing an ODI series victory over New Zealand and will look to challenge the world champions in familiar home conditions.
Match details
Venue: Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium
Date: Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM IST, 10:30 AM PST, 5:30 AM GMT
Team overviews
Bangladesh
Bangladesh national cricket team will rely heavily on their familiarity with home conditions as they prepare to face one of the strongest ODI sides in world cricket. The hosts recently impressed with a series victory over New Zealand and will take confidence from their performances on spin-friendly pitches.
Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz leads a squad featuring a blend of experienced internationals and emerging talent. Batters such as Najmul Hossain Shanto, Litton Das, and Towhid Hridoy will be expected to provide stability, while Bangladesh’s bowling attack appears well suited to the conditions in Dhaka.
The home side understands that controlling the middle overs through spin and disciplined pace bowling will be crucial if they are to challenge Australia.
Australia
Australia national cricket team arrive in Bangladesh looking to respond positively after losing an ODI series against Pakistan. Despite that setback, Australia remain one of the most formidable teams in the format and possess considerable depth in both batting and bowling.
Josh Inglis will captain the side, while experienced performers such as Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, and Adam Zampa provide balance across departments. Australia may not have their full-strength lineup available, but they still possess enough quality to adapt to challenging subcontinental conditions.
The visitors will look to use their superior ODI experience and strong head-to-head record against Bangladesh to gain an early advantage in the series.
Head-to-head record
Australia have historically dominated this ODI rivalry.
| Matches | Bangladesh Wins | Australia Wins | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 2 | 20 | 0 |
Australia have won 20 of the 22 ODIs played between the two sides, highlighting their long-standing superiority in this matchup.
Pitch report
The surface at Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium is traditionally among the most challenging batting venues in international cricket. The wicket generally plays slow and low, offering substantial assistance to spinners as the match progresses.
Batters often find it difficult to score freely once the ball gets older, making partnerships crucial. Teams batting first generally aim for scores between 250 and 260, which are considered highly competitive totals at this venue.
Spinners are expected to dominate the middle overs, while fast bowlers who use variations effectively can also find success.
Key players
Matt Renshaw
Matt Renshaw enters the series after producing useful contributions against Pakistan. The left-hander scored 108 runs across three innings and possesses a solid technique against spin bowling, making him a key player on the Dhaka surface.
Josh Inglis
Josh Inglis will have the dual responsibility of leading the side and contributing with the bat. His aggressive style can help Australia accelerate during crucial phases of the innings.
Nahid Rana
Nahid Rana was outstanding against New Zealand and finished as the leading wicket-taker of that series with eight wickets in three matches. Bangladesh will hope he can continue that form against Australia’s batting lineup.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz
Mehidy Hasan Miraz remains Bangladesh’s most important all-rounder. His contributions with both bat and ball could significantly influence the outcome of the contest.
Probable playing XIs
Bangladesh Probable XI
- Saif Hassan
- Tanzid Hasan Tamim
- Soumya Sarkar
- Najmul Hossain Shanto
- Towhid Hridoy
- Litton Das (wicketkeeper)
- Mehidy Hasan Miraz (captain)
- Tanvir Islam
- Shoriful Islam
- Mustafizur Rahman
- Nahid Rana
Australia Probable XI
- Alex Carey
- Matthew Short
- Josh Inglis (captain and wicketkeeper)
- Marnus Labuschagne
- Cameron Green
- Matt Renshaw
- Cooper Connolly
- Oliver Peake
- Nathan Ellis
- Matthew Kuhnemann
- Adam Zampa
Probable match scenarios
If Bangladesh bat first and post a total around 250, they will back their spinners and slower bowlers to defend the target successfully. The conditions are expected to become more difficult for batting as the match progresses.
Australia’s ideal approach would be to make full use of the powerplay and avoid losing early wickets against Bangladesh’s disciplined attack. Their middle order has enough experience to navigate challenging conditions if the top order provides a solid foundation.
The battle between Bangladesh’s spin attack and Australia’s middle-order batters could ultimately decide the contest.
Live streaming and broadcast
India
Live Streaming: FanCode app and website
Pakistan
Streaming availability depends on local broadcast rights holders and regional sports platforms.
Bangladesh
Official broadcast and digital streaming through local rights holders.
Australia
Coverage through official Australian cricket broadcast partners and streaming services.
Global viewers
Fans can watch through licensed broadcasters and digital streaming partners available in their respective regions.
Match prediction
Bangladesh’s familiarity with Dhaka conditions makes them a dangerous opponent, particularly on a surface expected to assist spin bowling. However, Australia’s superior ODI pedigree, stronger overall squad depth, and dominant head-to-head record give them a slight advantage heading into the series opener.
If Bangladesh’s bowlers can restrict Australia below 250, the hosts will have a realistic chance of causing an upset. Nevertheless, Australia’s batting depth and experienced bowling attack make them marginal favourites to start the series with a victory.
