Talk to most Australian cricketers and you will discover that there are two things at the top of their list of important international cricketing experiences: the first is to play in an Ashes series; the second is to tour the subcontinent. It is this second item that will be playing on the minds of the Australian women’s team as they prepare for their trip to to face Bangladesh in three ODIs and three T20s. The opportunity to travel somewhere where everything – from the conditions to the pitches – is so different from home is never one taken lightly.
But the series also tells the story of two very different teams. So far in 2024 Australia have played 11 matches – four ODIs, six T20s and one Test. Bangladesh have not played a single match this year – they last played in December when they toured South Africa, winning one T20 and one ODI in the six matches they played. Before that, they won both the T20 and ODI series against Pakistan in October. As a squad, they clearly have talent and drive but their lack of consistent match experience stands in stark contrast to their Australian counterparts.
