McDonald wary of Bangladesh pace trio ahead of Australia Tests

Bangladesh's pace trio were rested for the recent one-off Test against Zimbabwe, a match the Tigers lost by an innings, but McDonald believes they remain one of the fastest and most dangerous seam attacks in world cricket.

"Rana got us in the first game, didn't he?" McDonald told cricket.com.au. "Sometimes that can be sight unseen as well, we hadn't had a look at him and he comes in with a different action."

The Australia coach said Bangladesh's recent ODI success highlighted their rapid improvement.

"Sometimes that can be sight unseen as well – we hadn't had a look at him and he comes in with a different action.

"But I think they are a good team, and I think that's the thing that's probably lost in it all (after) we do lose a (ODI) series to Bangladesh for the first time. In their conditions they've won five ODI series in a row, so they're a good team there.

"Then if you start to extrapolate that out into the Test (arena) – you've got Taskin, you've got Rana, you got Shoriful, they've got some depth there outside of those guys as well.

"So they've got a pace attack that, in Australia, could be pretty potent.

"We're going to have to do our homework. I know it's a different format but it's probably a great connector in terms of just seeing how their bowlers go about it and getting a look at their actions."He added that Australia would leave nothing to chance.

"We're going to have to do our homework. I know it's a different format but it's probably a great connector in terms of just seeing how their bowlers go about it and getting a look at their actions."

According to CricViz data, Nahid Rana has been the fastest bowler in Test cricket since his debut in March 2024, with only Australia's Mitchell Starc averaging above 140kph over the same period.

The 23-year-old also impressed against Australia during the recent ODI series and recently claimed 6 for 21 against Zimbabwe.

McDonald believes both teams possess world-class pace attacks, meaning batting could decide the series.

"Our fast-bowling attack is pretty handy also. So if you lived in a world where their (bowling attack) is handy and ours is a little bit better than handy, then runs is going to be where that series is won or lost."

He also pointed to Australia's spin advantage, adding, "We think our spin stocks in Australia potentially can be a point of difference within that series as well."

Bangladesh will return to Australia for a bilateral Test series for the first time since 2003, with the two-match contest marking the beginning of Australia's busy 12-month Test schedule.