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Friday, 7 April 2006, 11:30 GMT 12:30 UK

Ponting seeks Bangladesh victory

Ricky Ponting Australia captain Ricky Ponting has ruled out any possibility of his side taking it easy in the Test series in Bangladesh, which starts on Sunday.

They have just completed a 3-0 clean sweep in South Africa and keen to extend their winning streak.

"We are here to play our best Test cricket," said Ponting.

"I am sure the exposure they have had against other top teams will have helped them, but we want to focus on what we can do."

They beat Bangladesh by an innings in two Tests played in Australia in 2003.

But the memory of a shock defeat in a one-day game at Cardiff during last summer's Ashes tour still rankles.

"There is more luck involved in the one-day game than in Test cricket," Ponting commented.

Australia will be forced to make changes to the side which dominated South Africa as Justin Langer and Michael Kasprowicz, along with Shaun Tait, have had to miss the tour because of injuries.

Langer's absence leaves them a choice of drafting Phil Jaques in to open the batting, or pushing Mike Hussey up the order and including Michael Clarke at number five.

The loss of Kasprowicz presents them with a choice of either Jason Gillespie or Mitchell Johnson as a third seamer, but they could instead opt to play Stuart MacGIll as a second spinner in support of Shane Warne.

The first Test will be played at Fatullah, with the second starting on 16 April in Chittagong.

And Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore has set his side the goal of showing Australia how much they have improved since the series down under three years ago.

"I think we have improved a little," said Whatmore, who won seven Test caps for Australia in 1979-80.

"They will be playing in our conditions and we will go out there and try to compete, knowing that we have played some good teams and begun to fight it out in Tests."




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Related to this story:

Mortaza to face might of Aussies (06 Apr 06 |  Cricket )
Gillespie handed Australia recall (05 Apr 06 |  Cricket )
Bangladesh promise Aussie safety (04 Apr 06 |  Bangladesh )
Tait ruled out of Bangladesh tour (03 Apr 06 |  Cricket )
Australia in Bangladesh 2006 (31 Dec 05 |  Future tour dates )

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