Gilchrist warns no quarter will be given

A few decades - and several human-rights acts - have passed since anyone last extolled the benefits of a "damn good thrashing", but there's nothing like the prospect of a gruesomely one-sided contest to get an Australian's juices flowing. Adam Gilchrist, the supposed nice guy of the Australian team, has promised to teach Bangladesh a lesson they will never forget when the teams meet at Darwin next month for the first Test of an intriguingly awaited contest.

Many former Australian Test players, most recently Dennis Lillee, have criticised the decision to stage such a hopelessly lopsided contest. On the one hand, Bangladesh have lost 18 of their 19 Tests to date, 13 by an innings. Australia, by contrast, have won 29 of their 38 matches since the turn of the decade, and haven't lost a home Test series since 1992-93. Gilchrist, however, was unrepentant.

"People will look at the series and say it's going to be a write-off, that we're going to not only win but smash them," he said. "But there's no doubt they'll benefit from the experience, whether it's an absolute thrashing or if they really surprise everyone and do well. Win, lose or draw, it will be a lesson for them, a step forward for them to play against what's perceived to be the best team in the world.

"There are a lot of positives to the series that people might be overlooking," added Gilchrist. "It's the first time for Australia playing Bangladesh, so we'll be making history in that regard. There will be the history of playing the first Test in Darwin, and the history of playing the first Test in Cairns. And there will be the excitement factor of the locals up there getting to see Test-match cricket."

The bottom line for Australia, however, is victory - by the widest possible margin. "Hopefully, if we play well, we'll smash them," warned Gilchrist, "because that will mean we're still playing to our level."