Australian test skipper, Pat Cummins has opened up on Australia’s approach to Test cricket against teams outside the usual high-profile clashes with India and England, admitting that expectations remain high regardless of the opposition. Speaking ahead of the second Test against Bangladesh in Mackay, the Australian captain acknowledged that his side is expected to win most of the matches it plays at home, while also giving credit to Bangladesh after their stunning victory in Darwin. “I think when it's not India or England, a lot of people jump to say that you have to win everything and obviously we hope we do,” Cummins said. “Particularly home Test matches, we pride ourselves on winning as many as we can. We were nowhere near our best [in Darwin], but I think Bangladesh played really well. They're a really good cricket team. So, yeah, it wasn't ideal. I would expect that we'd win more games than whoever we play here.”

The defeat in Darwin has put Australia under pressure heading into the Mackay Test, with Bangladesh having already secured a historic nine-wicket victory in the series opener. For Cummins, however, the result was less about taking the opposition lightly and more about acknowledging that Test cricket does not always follow expectations. Bangladesh’s performance exposed Australia’s shortcomings, while the hosts now need a strong response to level the series. The second Test also gives the Australian side a chance to show that the Darwin defeat was an aberration rather than a sign of deeper problems.

“Trying to give it another day”: Nathan Lyon keeps his spot as Australia weigh all-seam attack in second test against Bangladesh 

Australian bowler, Nathan Lyon has kept his place in Australia’s XI for the second Test against Bangladesh in Mackay after selectors briefly considered going with an all-seam attack. Captain Pat Cummins had admitted before the team was confirmed that Australia were weighing up whether four quicks could exploit the conditions at the Great Barrier Reef Arena. “Trying to give it another day to see whether it's four quicks or a spinner,” Cummins said. “It's largely conditions-based. If you think there's a good chance in that first or second bowling innings that you're going to take 10 wickets mainly with the quicks relatively quickly, and then perhaps the fourth innings isn't going to break up. That's a lot of the decision. Then probably related to that is having someone like Scotty Boland on the bench, who obviously is very class. I think that's why the conversation always comes up.”

The selectors ultimately resisted the temptation to leave out their veteran spinner, meaning Lyon remains part of the attack for the must-win Test. Australia have twice used an all-seam combination in pink-ball Tests, but leaving Lyon out of a red-ball Test when fit would have been a much bigger call. Mackay’s surface also played a part in the decision. Great Barrier Reef Arena curator Peter Kazakoff said, “Spinners have had a big say later in the match, but obviously that's not my call. Obviously, those first-class games were a bit later in the year when it was a bit warmer. It's a lot cooler this time of year, so the moisture will come out of the wicket slower.”