Home > Cricket > Reuters > Report
Australia will not treat Bangladesh lightly: Buchanan
June 13, 2003 15:42 IST
Australia will be under orders not to take it easy when they face struggling Bangladesh next month, their coach John Buchanan said on Friday.
Australia, the world's top side in Test and limited-overs cricket, will host the Asian side in two Tests and three one-dayers in July and August.
Although Bangladesh have never won a Test match and have not enjoyed a one-day victory for over four years, Buchanan said there would be no room for charity.
"Our game will always be to be as aggressive as we can," Buchanan told reporters in Darwin, the venue for the first Test.
"We try and put our opposition under as much pressure as we can, right from the word go, so that won't change."
Buchanan does, however, expect Bangladesh to become a more competitive side after appointing Dav Whatmore as coach.
Whatmore took another Asian newcomer to international cricket, Sri Lanka, to a shock victory at the 1996 World Cup.
"I think what he'll do is bring them direction; I think he will bring them some discipline and give them some shape," Buchanan said.
"Whether that happens immediately time will tell, but I think that's a very good move for them and something that will improve their cricket a little bit quicker than maybe what it has done in the past."
© Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.
|