Related Links : Aus in Bangladesh : Scorecard
The second day’s play at Chittagong ended all of a sudden due to a heavy storm that came in and done its damage – the damage was just too much for humans to get the ground back to some shape. It was a water logged day and the covers had taken plenty of water. There was the super sopper on which had done its bit to take off some water off the outfield and possibly help the ground to be fit for tomorrow’s play. After about 22 overs of play this morning, the skies opened up and rain started to pour in buckets forcing the players to take cover in their dressing rooms. There was plenty of lightning too making the situation look a lot scary and the bamboo poles in the stands had collapsed due to the strong winds.
In the little play that was possible, left hander Phil Jaques went onto score his maiden half century and Jason Gillespie stood as a rock. Jaques fell trying to play an ambitious shot off Mohammad Rafique. Phil Jaques made 66 with the help of 8 fours and a six to square leg of a hook shot from Shahadat Hossain. That six came in the closing moments of the opening day. This was just the 3rd innings played by Jaques in his Test Career after making his Debut against South Africa at Melbourne this season. After Jaques got out, Ricky Ponting entered into the middle and played a smooth knock along with Gillespie before the rain had come down.
It looks that the ground has taken quiet a beating from the rain and a lot depends on the amount of sunshine that is possible today and tomorrow morning. Australia wouldn’t be bothered that most of the day’s play was washed out as they are more than good enough to wrap this match up quickly. Bangladesh would value each day of Test Cricket as a learning experience in getting their players acclimatized to the 5-day match.