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Players deserve criticism: Darren Lehmann

darren lehmann says australian players deserved to be put under the cosh after their collective failure in the first Test at dhaka

By Unnikrishnan
Australia have an uphill task against Bangladesh in the second Test

Chittagong, September 2: Shocked by Bangladesh in the first Test by 20 runs,
Australia are desperate to restore lost pride when the teams meet in the second and final Test, starting in Chittagong on Monday (September 4).

Coach Darren Lehmann admitted the players had been stung by the level of condemnation of the team's performance.

"The boys are all hurting with the criticism you get," Lehmann told reporters.

"You deserve that when you don't win. It is not good enough when you lose a Test match to anyone, but Bangladesh are tough at home," he added.

Chittagong does at least hold some fond memories for the Australians as they try to salvage a drawn series.

The only previous time they played a Test there, in 2006, the visitors won by an innings and 80 runs with nightwatchman Jason Gillespie scoring an unbeaten double century.

But Bangladesh are a more formidable opponent now and the biggest challenge facing Australia's players is to find a way to combat the home team's spinners.

All but one of Australia's 20 wickets in the series opener fell to spin, and the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium pitch in Chittagong is expected to favour slow bowling.

Australia have recalled left-arm spinner Steve O'Keefe for the injured Josh Hazlewood and could play him alongside their frontline spinners Nathan Lyon and Ashton Agar.

"The way the wicket was you are not going to have too many overs bowled by the quicks as the game goes on and we expect the same sort of pitch," he said.

Bangladesh left-arm spinner Taijul Islam, who took the match-clinching final wicket in Dhaka, said the home side was also hoping for a turning pitch in Chittagong as they try to sweep the series.

"I hope it (wicket) will remain the same because we are expecting another win," he said.

"We have the capacity to win the series 2-0. We nearly did against England last year. So I don't think it is impossible to beat Australia again," he said.

Story first published: Saturday, September 2, 2017, 14:30 [IST]
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