Simmons reveals plan to put Australia under pressure in Mackay

Phil Simmons, Bangladesh's head coach, has said his team's plan for the second Test in Mackay is to bat 110 overs in the first innings and put Australia under pressure, building on the tactics that worked in the first Test.

Bangladesh won the first Test of the series against Australia in Darwin by a massive margin of 9 wickets. Before leaving home, fans and supporters had doubts about how long the Tigers could compete, but Bangladesh brushed aside those doubts and won with a dominant display on Australian soil. Asked how confident the team is after this win, Simmons said on Thursday, "Actually, winning a Test match naturally brings confidence. We played well. We won a good Test match. So confidence is very high."

Asked whether this was the best win of his coaching career, Simmons said, "Definitely, this is the best Test win of my coaching career. There have been some big wins in other formats, but Test cricket is the best." Asked what changed in this series after the defeat in Zimbabwe, he said, "I actually watch the practice sessions. I saw all our practice during the three-day preparation match and the practice before the Test match. Our work has never really changed. Although we were bowled out for 54 (in the practice match), there was no change in our work. These are the things that give me confidence. They make me believe that they want to do well. So success will come at some point or another."

Despite the win in Darwin, Simmons also voiced concern that Australia would return stronger for the second Test in Mackay. He said, "I just want to keep saying one thing again and again — Australia will come back much stronger. So we need to maintain our level or improve a bit. If we can improve even a little, we need to make sure we show that on the field. But we know Australia will change their game and put us under pressure."

The two teams are now in Mackay for the second and final Test of the series, where the Tigers are training regularly. Simmons spoke of the goal of putting hosts Australia under pressure by carrying forward the strategy from the first Test. Speaking to the media after the team's practice session, he said, "Test cricket is a five-day game, and if my team can bat 110 overs within those five days, the opposition will certainly come under pressure. That is how I learned to play Test cricket." Stating that scoring big in the first innings is the main target, he further said, "You bat, you build a big score — scoring big runs in the first innings is always good. Then you put the opposition under pressure. That is what we are trying to do as well. We are trying to score big runs in the first innings while batting, and we want to make sure the opposition has to work very hard to reach our score."