A Herculean task ahead of Bangladesh

St Peter's, Antigua, Mar 30 (UNI) A Herculean task awaits surprise qualifier Bangladesh as they take on the defending champions Australia tomorrow in their opening Super Eight encounter of the Cricket World Cup at the Sir Vivian Richards ground here tomorrow.

This is the first time in three appearances that Bangladesh managed to progress to the second round of the tournament, and the Bangladeshi Tigers are determined to show the world that their qualification is no fluke.

''We now have six matches against top sides, and have a chance to improve on our performance. The celebrations are over and now we have a job to do,'' said Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar after the team's strenuous work out at the newly built stadium here.

''What happened in Port of Spain (beating India) was not an accident. We also have a win over Australia in the recent past and we will be out to regain that feat again,'' he added.

However, to achieve that, the Tigers will have to showcase an extraordinary level of cricket and they are keen, and charged up to do so, but whether that alone is enough against the world's best team remains to be seen.

Australia coach John Buchanan has said the reverses which his team suffered during the end of their summer season earlier this year - had been put behind and that the squad was back at close to its best. The 103-run win over the hosts West Indies underlined that it was not idle talk.

For the Aussies, Glenn McGrath is on the verge of a record, that of equaling and surpassing Pakistani great pacer Wasim Akram's 55 World Cup victims record and he will be eager to get there as soon as is possible.

However despite their crushing victories over South Africa and West Indies in the current tournament, Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has warned his team not to take Bangladesh lightly.

''It will be wrong to underestimate the opposition. They (Bangladesh) have qualified beating powerful India and they have also beaten us in the past, so we have a healthy respect for them,'' Ponting said. ''We are taking this match as seriously as we would take it against any team. It is World Cup and every team gives its best here,'' he added.

Bangladesh will need a miracle to get past the mighty Australians, who already have four points in their pocket and will be looking forward to swell their kitty by grabbing two more.

A victory will consolidate Australia's position for the semi-final berth and in an unlikely event of upset, Bangladesh may yet again shock the world, having already done so once earlier by knocking former cup holders India out in the first round.

''The players are focused and keen to put up a good show,'' the Bangladeshi skipper said, adding that Bangladesh is under no pressure as the entire pressure will be on the Aussies. ''We will play our game and give over best.'' He praised Australian-born coach Dav Whatmore for instilling a sense of self belief in Bangladesh players. ''It is a big stage and it is up to us to make use of it.'' But for the Tigers, apart from Pontings lethal bowling attack, the hulking shadow of big-hitter Matthew Hayden will hover over their heads as they will have to cope with his demolishing form, which saw him score two back to back thundering centuries in the mega event so far and to add salt to thw wound, his opening partner Adam Gilchrist is also awaiting his moment in the sun.

Bashar's men will be yet again looking at pace spearhead Mashrafe Mortaza to deliver the goods as he did against India, but whether the strapping lad from Norail in the Jessore area can live up to the expectations or not is there to be seen.

Incidentally, Mortaza has caught Hayden hopping in the past, but considering the Aussie's present form, he and his fellow bowlers will have to do a lot more to catch their opponents off-guard.

Teams (from): Australia : Adam Gilchrist (wk and vc), Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Michael Hussey, Stuart Clark, Shane Watson, Brad Hogg, Nathan Bracken, Glenn McGrath, Shaun Tait, Brad Hodge, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson.

Bangladesh : Habibul Bashar (capt), Shahriar Nafees (vc), Abdur Razzak, Aftab Ahmed, Javed Omar, Mashrafe Mortaza, Mohammad Ashraful, Mohammad Rafique, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Rajin Saleh, Saqibul Hasan, Shahadat Hossain, Syed Rasel, Tamim Iqbal, Tapash Baisya.

Officials: Umpires : Aleem Dar and Billy Bowden.

Third umpire : Rudi Koertzen.

Fourth umpire : Asad Rauf.

Match referee : Chris Broad.

UNI