We are not playing against aliens: Mushy

Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim today said that they were not playing against aliens but against a very strong Australian team.

"We are not playing against aliens. We are playing against Australia. They are a very good team. But we have the ability to beat them in our home soil. In that case we will have to play really well," the Bangladesh captain told reporters at the Shere-e-Bangla National Stadium this afternoon.

His remark ahead of the opening Test of the two-Test series that starts at the home of Bangladesh cricket in Mirpur tomorrow added more spice to an already animated pre-series build-up following premier all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan's confident assertion that the Tigers have the ability win the series 2-0 a couple of days ago.  

Australia are making their first visit to Bangladesh for a Test series after 11 long years.

Mushfiqur also said that if Bangladesh are to win the series the players will have to really work hard to translate their words into deeds.

"By saying 2-0 will not help us at all. We will have to work really hard for that," said the middle order-batsman-cum-wicketkeeper. He felt that Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon is set to pose the biggest threat on a wicket that will help the slow bowlers.

The first Test will start from 10am tomorrow provided that rain, which poses the biggest threat during the course of next five days, stays away.