Pride at stake for underachievers
Two teams down on their luck will meet in Dhaka with only the faint hope of regaining some pride after swift elimination from a tournament that should have promised more for each
Match facts
April 1, 2014Start time 1530 local (0930 GMT)
Big Picture
Two teams down on their luck will meet in Dhaka with only the faint hope of regaining some pride after swift elimination from a tournament that should have promised more for each. As hosts, Bangladesh were expected to offer something more substantial than their struggle to get into the main draw and floundering displays once in it. As pre-event favourites, Australia have disappointed every bit as much, leaving plenty of questions to be answered about their approach to Twenty20 and perhaps the quality of the Big Bash League that is meant to be the team's proving ground.Form guide
(most recent first)Bangladesh LLLLW
Australia LLLWW
In the spotlight
While Shakib Al Hasan can be expected to provide the major spin threat for Bangladesh, he will need support to ensure Australia are kept in check. Abdur Razzak thus looms as a worthwhile inclusion and an operator capable of tightening the innings. Razzak has unhappy memories of facing Australia in Dhaka, when in 2011 Shane Watson took him and many other teammates to the cleaners towards a world record tally of sixes while clumping 185* in an ODI. He will hope to make amends this time around.Team news
Stats and trivia
- Apart from knockout events, Australia have never lost every match at an ICC tournament in which they have competed
- Bangladesh's only victory over Australia in any format arrived in an ODI at Cardiff in 2005
Quotes
"We have to be motivated. I think for me personally, the motivation is - I don't like losing, personally. As a team we, don't like losing. I don't like my performance in this tournament. I haven't got five runs."Shane Watson describes his mindset entering Australia's final match
Daniel Brettig is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. He tweets here