Steven Smith is looking forward to the challenge of playing Bangladesh in their own backyard in the two-match Test series which begins on 9th October.
©REUTERS / Action Images
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Steven Smith looking forward for Bangladesh challenge
Australian captain Steven Smith is looking forward to the challenge of playing Bangladesh in their own backyard in the two-match Test series which begins on 9th October.
Australia have announced a relatively young squad for the upcoming tour with the retirements of senior players like Michael Clarke, Chris Rogers and Brad Haddin.
The selectors have included young opening batsman Cameron Bancroft in the squad along with the likes of Joe Burns and Usman Khawaja for the Bangladesh tour.
Smith feels that the mix of the youngsters and experienced players like Adam Voges and Peter Siddle offers an exciting challenge to him as a captain.
"Yeah it is an inexperienced side, but we are in a generational change in Australian cricket at the moment.
"There are a couple of experienced guys there.
"Adam Voges is my vice captain, Shaun Marsh played a lot of cricket as well, (and we have) Peter Siddle.
"So we have a feet experienced guys there with a few new guys coming in.
"I am really looking forward to the challenges of going over to Bangladesh."
Smith opined that Australia's tour of United Kingdom ended in a satisfying manner with a win in the One-Day International series after losing the urn earlier.
"I think it is always a good tour going to play in England.
"It is a great place to play. The crowds were full every game we played and very vocal as always.
"I thought it was disappointing not to retain the Ashes over there.
"It was another big learning curve for us.
“Next time we go back, hopefully we will do better.
"At the back end of that it was nice to come home with some silverware, winning the one day series, it was quite satisfying."
Smith further asserted that the Australian team will be working as hard as they can to ensure that they win the series in Bangladesh with the young group of players.
"Look, I think it is a big challenge and a great challenge as well.
"I am just looking forward to leading this group of guys.
“We are playing for Australia and we want to win every game and series we play.
"We are going to be working our backsides off to make sure we are doing everything we can to do that."
Of late, Bangladesh have been very successful at home with ODI series wins against Pakistan, India and South Africa.
Smith knows that Bangladesh will be a tough team to face in their home conditions and is confident that his side will be prepared for it.
"Every test you play you want to win, you want to win every series you play.
"It is no different going to Bangladesh.
"It is going to be difficult playing over there.
"They have played some good cricket in their own backyard.
"It is going to be a tough tour, hopefully we can prepare well and adapt to the conditions accordingly and have a successful tour."
With Khawaja at the helm the Australian A team enjoyed quite a successful tour against India A going on to win the unofficial Test series.
Despite a strong performance in the One-Day tri-series against India A and South Africa A, Australia A lost the final against the hosts.
Smith believed that Khawaja is a player with immense promise and an ability to score big runs in any conditions.
"I think he is learning how to score big runs in the last couple of years.
"He is a quality player and he's got a lot of time.
"He always finds ways to score runs in whatever conditions.
"He was quite successful in India with the A team, leading then over there.
"He has been around for a while now.
"I am excited to have him back in the squad and hopefully he can make it his own."
The two match Test series between Bangladesh and Australia will get underway on 9th October with the first match scheduled in Chittagong .
© Cricket World 2015
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