Dhaka: After an 11-year gap, Bangladesh take on arguably cricket’s strongest nation Australia once again in the game’s highest format, with the first Test of a 2-match series starting at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium (SBNCS) in Mirpur on Sunday.

The fifth Test ever between the two nations will begin at 10:00am (Bangladesh time).

On the eve of their renewal in the longest format of cricket, Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim reiterated the high hopes, like his cohorts opener Tamim Iqbal and all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, that they must perform well enough in all departments to win the series.

Mushfiqur said that winning the 1^st match will be a great tribute to Tamim and Shakib who will simultaneously appear on the ground on Sunday for their 50^th Test.

‘Playing cricket is of course to secure victory and at home ground we’re playing well consistently for the last two years. They (Tamim and Shakib) have talked about on what they believed in,’ said Mushfiqur at the pre-match press conference at SBNCS media block on Saturday.

‘Now we have enough resources or good players who can change the game at any time. We’ve confident and can expect good result as we’ve 6-7 fantastic players in team. But the game will not be easy as they (Australians) are highly professional side,’ the Tigers captain added.

Replying to a query, he said, ‘We have no control on weather conditions or pitch. It cannot be an excuse as it will be difficult for both sides. We have to adapt the situation as professional. It can be difficult to readjust for batting due to on and off the ground for bad weather.’

Mushfiqur informed that there are no injuries among the team players and will try to make best combination in the eleven.

According to the Tigers captain the visiting team captain Steven Smith is aggressive and pro-active and they never lose hope until the end of the game.

Mushfiqur thinks that spin will dominate in the game and to do batter in the game his side needs a good start as well as the execution of their plan of team performance on the ground.

No matter in what number he will play, maximization of opportunities will be his target and will try his best to do that.

He thanked Australian side as they came here overcoming all the barriers and hoped that the world will see a great test as the Tigers did a lot of homework before the match.

On the other camp, mild spoken Steven Smith wants to play ball by ball and pretty confident to face spin attacks and also that have good chances with their well set.

Smith expects that the series as great one and have chances of win is fifty-fifty. Bangladesh is very confident at the moment after completing their 100^th test, he considered.

Replying to a query, Smith said that he earned the quality of playing with aggressiveness under pressure through his experience. ‘It earns with experience, so I do well under pressure.’

Smith praised Mushfiqur saying, ‘He improved a lot in the last couple of years in his game and scored well in some matches.’

‘I think the key to winning overseas is to ensure that you’re adapting consistently and putting those performances on the board consistently,’ Smith continued.

Smith has good observation on the nature of the subcontinental pitch as he said, ‘There’s a ‘no whingeing’ policy about anything here in the subcontinent, wickets (pitches) certainly fall under that. They’ve put some grass clippings down to make it look a bit greener than what it is but it’s pretty dry underneath. I dare say it’ll be pretty slow.’

Bangladesh remain winless against all-win Australians in their previous four encounters, the last time in April 2006.

Australians are going to play their 802^nd Test when they will face the Tigers in the first Test. On the other side, Bangladesh will be only be playing their 101^st.

Interestingly, no player in either side has ever faced their opponent before in Test matches. It shows how things are very different from 2006.

Bangladesh last played Test on home ground against England in October 2016 where the Tigers secured the maiden Test victory against the English by 108 runs.