Short odds on Test first

Waugh is refusing to under-estimate Bangladesh

Australian bookmakers are offering odds of 17-1 on their side becoming the first ever to complete a Test victory in a single day over Bangladesh.

Steve Waugh's side, currently ranked top of the ICC Test Championship, take on the tourists, who have failed to win any of their 19 matches since gaining Test status in 2001, in Darwin from Friday.

No Test match has ever been completed in a day, although Australia's fifth Test against South Africa in 1931/32 lasted just five hours 53 minutes, spanning three rain-hit days.

Several commentators, including former Australia batsman David Hookes, have called for no mercy on a side they do not believe deserves to play Test cricket.

"Steve Waugh should send them in to bat, bowl them out before lunch, bat until tea and declare, then send them back in and roll them again before stumps," Hookes said.

We expect it to be Test match and we're going to play as hard as we can Steve Waugh

But on his arrival in Darwin, which will host its first ever Test match, Waugh played down the chances of a lop-sides contest.

"It's exciting, it's a new venue for us all, we've never played Bangladesh in a Test before so we're looking forward to the challenge of playing up here," Waugh said.

"At this stage of Bangladesh's experience to play against the supposed top five in world cricket is important."

Match report: Tigers claim second win

Waugh was pleased Bangladesh pulled off a second consecutive tour victory on Sunday when they downed the Northern Territory Chief Minister's XI by two wickets.

"Emerging sides need a lot of match practice. They've played a couple of good games and I'm sure their form is OK," he added.

"We expect it to be Test match and we're going to play as hard as we can.

"I don't know what the result is going to be, but we play as if it's going to be a tough Test match."

Waugh can achieve a milestone if he can pass 150, either in Darwin or the following week in Cairns, as he would become the first batsman to do so against every Test nation.