DHAKA: Australia coach Darren Lehmann on Monday backed Ashton Agar to make his Test return during the tour of Bangladesh, four years after the all-rounder made his last appearance.

Agar impressed Australian selectors with his form in the domestic Sheffield Shield competition this season, earning him a recall ahead of left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe.

“Ashton batted really well and he is a gun fielder. We are really pleased for him,” Lehmann told reporters in Dhaka.

“We are hoping for Ashton to reproduce that sort of form,” Lehmann said of Agar.

Australia are expected to field at least two spinners in the first Test in Dhaka starting this Sunday, with Agar now set to join regular spinner Nathan Lyon in the attack.

Lehmann said Australia were prepared for anything at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, where Bangladesh defeated England inside three days last October.

“In India we had three-day games. Sometimes, shorter the match, the more exciting Test match it is in a way,” he said.

“We are prepared for that but traditionally it is a good wicket here.”

TOUR MATCH CANCELLED

Meanwhile, Australia’s two-day tour match against a Bangladesh XI has been canceled because of concerns over contaminated water following recent flooding at the ground.

Lehmann and skipper Steven Smith visited the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah on Monday and decided it wouldn’t be fit for play on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“The ground wasn’t deemed up to the mark,” Bangladesh Cricket Board media and communications committee chairman Jalal Yunus said.

“Some parts of the outfield remained wet so they didn’t want to play the practice match there.”

The visitors now will continue regular training session at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium ahead of the two-Test series.

“It’s a shame for both of the sides,” said Lehmann, whose team will enter the series with just an intra-squad trial in Australia last week as warm-up. “The BCB has been fantastic trying to get us the game. The amount of rain hasn’t helped.

“We feel for the people of Bangladesh with the amount of rain they have had. There are a lot of people in this country struggling because of the rain so the thoughts are with them.”

Australia have won all four Tests they have played against Bangladesh, but the teams haven’t met in the five-day format since 2006.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2017