We will have to play a lot better: Smith
Australia captain Steven Smith says that they will have to play a lot better it they want to win the second Test.
The Aussies are trailing the two-match Test series 1-0.
"Yeah there's always pressure in international cricket, no matter what the scoreline is. We're down 1-0 in this series and we need to win this Test match to level the series. We've got to come out and play a lot better than we did last week. Bangladesh will be full of confidence after the way they played last week. We're going to have to play a lot better than we did last week, said Smith at a pre-match briefing in Chittagong today.
He once again said that it would have been nice to play a practice game but he was not taking that an excuse.
"It would have been nice to play a practice match that's for sure. But I'm not holding that as an excuse. We still had to come out and do a job in the Test match and we weren't able to play as well as we would have liked and we were outplayed by Bangladesh. It's relevant we couldn't play a practice match, you just have to get on with it," added the Australian captain.
Smith also said that he had a look at the wicket.
"I saw it briefly yesterday. I think it won't bounce quite as much as the wicket in Dhaka. I think it'll take spin as the game goes on, maybe not as much turn from day one, but I don't judge wickets very well so who knows. I think the inclusion of Stephen O'Keefe into the squad is a good one, it gives us the option to play three spinners if we like. Bangladesh did that against us last week and it's just a nice option to change your bowlers around so you never really settle against anyone. If it's really spinning it's a good option. There's a possibility that we go in with that.
"I think our first innings batting really let us down. To be behind by 50 or thereabouts was not good enough. You have to try and get in front of the game especially when you're going to bat last on that wicket. First-innings let us down. We weren't able to form enough partnerships and no one went on to score a big score for us. Certainly our first innings was what let us down," he said while reflecting on first-inning disappointment.
He however said that they were holding back the selection of the playing eleven till the last moment.
"It's going to depend on the wicket and what we think the best make-up of the side is. It's certainly good to have Pete here as an option if we want to go down that path. We've had a few discussions but w'ere not going to name anything until the toss tomorrow. We need to have another look at the wicket. It's under covers at the moment, it's still raining so haven't had a chance to do that yet. Hopefully the rain clears up while we're here at practice and we get an opportunity to see it and have a better idea of what we're going to go in with."
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