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Australia v Bangladesh, 1st ODI, Darwin Clarke guarantees no complacency August 29, 2008
Michael Clarke is certain there will be no complacency from Australia on Saturday when they face a Bangladesh team described by Jamie Siddons as more talented than the group that upset Australia in 2005. Siddons, the Bangladesh coach, wants his men to take advantage of an underprepared Australia, who have only had one practice game in Darwin ahead of the three-match ODI series. But with so many fringe Australia players desperate to impress, Clarke guaranteed his side would not be taking Bangladesh for granted. Clarke and Michael Hussey were the only two members of Australia's current squad who were part of the five-wicket loss in Cardiff in 2005, the only time Bangladesh has beaten Australia in an ODI, and it's a day that has stuck in their minds. "It's certainly a memory that you never forget," Clarke said. "For me personally it's not because Bangladesh beat Australia it's because we took a team for granted. From that day I've certainly learnt that in international cricket you can't afford to do that "There's a lot of guys trying to cement their position in this one-day team and we all have a lot to play for. I think you'll find it'll be the other way, you'll see Australia come out at 100 miles an hour from ball one." If they do attack hard from the word go it could give Bangladesh a valuable opening, should the top order fail to fire. Siddons was an assistant coach with Australia in 2005 and he recalls how his then opposition caught the Australians by surprise and chased down 250 in the 50th over. "In that game, and I can remember it pretty well, the wicket played a few tricks early and we won the toss and bowled," Siddons said. "If we can get a wicket like that out here that is better for us to bowl on then we'll be competitive and have a chance of winning the game. "Without a doubt the side that we've got [now] is a more talented side. Whether they're as match hardened or as internationally match hardened is another thing. But the ability that this side has got now is definitely for the future a far better side, a far more naturally gifted side." The unusually early start time of 9.30am should provide some seam movement and Siddons, in his first match against his old side since becoming Bangladesh's coach, is confident Australia's top order could be vulnerable again. He watched their low-scoring practice match against the Australian Institute of Sports on the same pitch on Wednesday and the signs gave him some hope. "Typical Australia, apart from the batting," Siddons said. "I thought they were a little bit rusty, which I expect them to be tomorrow. But rusty is still pretty good." Bangladesh have been in Darwin for nearly a fortnight and have had five solid warm-up matches. The games were on the much smaller Gardens Oval but their batting efforts - they only once failed to reach 270 - have been promising. "The only thing that will play into our hands a little bit is the fact that they haven't been playing a lot of cricket and we have," Siddons said. "It's happened to the Aussies before, they've had little breaks and it takes them a game or two to get going." It is seven weeks since the Australians returned home from the West Indies and Clarke conceded that his men were slightly out of practice in their game against the AIS. The squad has gathered from all over Australia - much of which has had a freezing winter - and must adapt quickly to the 35-degree Northern Territory heat. "We're probably a little bit disappointed with the way we batted, a few guys including myself were a little bit rusty, our first hit-out," Clarke said of the AIS match. "I thought we bowled and fielded well, but there's still some room for improvement for tomorrow. "The guys obviously haven't been at home sitting on the couch doing nothing. The boys are pretty fit and healthy, there's no real niggles among the guys." Australia are unlikely to settle on their team until the morning of the match. Fringe players including David Hussey, Cameron White and Shaun Marsh will all be desperate to perform as they aim to remain in contention when the injured Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting return for the series in India. Brydon Coverdale is a staff writer at Cricinfo © Cricinfo
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