First Australia ODI Series in 15 Years Sees Confident Bangladesh Eyeing Upset

Australia are touring Bangladesh for their first bilateral ODI series in 15 years. Last ODI tour was 2011, when Australia swept 3-0.3 ODIs scheduled for June 9, 11, 14 in Dhaka, followed by 3 T20Is in Chattogram June 17-21.

Bangladesh enter with renewed confidence after strong home form: ODI series wins over West Indies, Pakistan, and New Zealand in the past 6 months. Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz: “After a long time, we are going to play an ODI series against Australia… Our plan is very simple: play good cricket and win matches”. Bangladesh have prepared a green-top surface to test Australia’s revamped squad under Mitchell Marsh.

It is the first men's bilateral ODI series between these teams for 15 years. One of the intriguing aspects of this leg of the tour is what conditions will confront Australia in only their second ODI series in the country. In times gone by it would have been billed as another trial by spin, but it may not play out that way this time. Pace bowling is now having a big say in Bangladesh. Across the six ODIs played this year - five of which have been in Mirpur, the venue for this series - pace bowlers have taken 69 wickets at 22.60 while spin has accounted for 26 at 35.50.

Should pace play a significant part that should, in theory, provide a more familiar challenge for Australia's batters. However, a home attack that could consist of Nahid Rana, Taskin Ahmed and the variations of Mustafizur Rahman should pose plenty of questions, especially for those struggling for form such as Marnus Labuschagne - if he is able to retain his place in the side. That isn't to say spin won't be a threat as well, with Bangladesh well covered in that department. Either way, it's been a country where the bowlers are in the game: there hasn't been an ODI total over 300 in Bangladesh since 2023.

Bangladesh have struggled in ODIs vs Australia: just 1 win in 22 matches. That lone win came at Cardiff in 2005, powered by Mohammad Ashraful’s century. Australia remain the only major nation Bangladesh have beaten only once in ODIs.

It might prove fortunate for Marnus Labuschagne that Marsh and Head have not made this series as it leaves him as one of the more experienced members of the squad. However, whether that saves his place in the XI remains to be seen. He had a poor series in Pakistan with scores of 0, 5 and 19 - although his last dismissal was a run out in a mix-up with Josh Inglis - but his ODI woes extend much further: in his last 13 innings he has a top score of 47 and averages 12.46.

The series is key prep for both sides ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa. Australia are in transition post-2026 T20 World Cup exit, with Mitchell Marsh captaining.

Bottom line: After 15 years, Australia return for ODIs in Bangladesh, facing a confident home side riding recent series wins and aiming to upset a historical record that’s heavily in Australia’s favor.