Aus to simulate BD conditions in Darwin

Australia have finalised preparations for their next Test assignment, announcing yesterday that they will complete a week-long camp in Darwin ahead of their Qantas Tour of Bangladesh in August.

Australia will embark on a seven-day training camp from August 10 which will include a three-day intra-squad match on August 14 at Marrara Cricket Ground.

Australia's squad for the two-Test tour of Bangladesh -- which currently features 13 players but selectors are expected to add a fast-bowler following the Australia A tour of South Africa next month -- will depart for Dhaka on August 18.

The two Australia A one-day squad members as it stands who have also been named in the Bangladesh touring party, Hilton Cartwright and Ashton Agar, will link up with the Test squad in Darwin on August 12.

"We're extremely grateful to the support received from the northern territory government and NT Cricket for assisting in facilitating this camp ahead of our Test tour of Bangladesh," Cricket Australia's team performance manager Pat Howard said. "Darwin will provide the ideal acclimatisation ahead of the tour and the facilities at Marrara are first-class.

"We're working closely with NT Cricket to replicate conditions in Bangladesh, as we did in Dubai for the Indian Test tour earlier this year, so the squad gets the best preparation possible before departing from Darwin directly to Bangladesh."

Darwin's tropical climate means the cricket season runs through the southern hemisphere's 'off-season', making it ideal for training and matches during winter months.

"We can offer a valuable preparation environment and simulate similar conditions to those the team will face during their tour of Bangladesh in late August, which will be of great benefit to everyone.

After departing the Top End, Australia's first hit out of their Bangladesh tour will be a two-day warm-up match in Fatullah. The first Test begins in Dhaka on August 27 and the second Test stars in Chittagong on September 4.

The series will be Australia's first Test tour of the dense Asian nation since 2006, when nightwatchman Jason Gillespie famously scored a double-century in his final Test.

SQUAD: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Ashton Agar, Hilton Cartwright, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, James Pattinson, Matthew Renshaw, Matthew Wade.