Bangladesh captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto believes his bowling attack can be the side's biggest weapon against Australia, even with pace spearhead Nahid Rana ruled out of the two Test series through injury.

Speaking in Darwin on August 12, 2026, a day before the opening Test, Shanto argued that Australia's own bowling attack, rather than their vaunted batting line up, poses the bigger threat to Bangladesh.

"Australia's batting is very strong. Their bowling will be the bigger challenge. Look at our bowling unit, Taskin is there, Hasan is there. Hasan has come back after performing brilliantly in county cricket. With our bowling, we can challenge them in these conditions," he said.

Rana's absence is a significant blow given the buzz his pace had generated in the Australian media before the tour, but Shanto was pragmatic about the setback.

"Of course we will miss him. But there is no point thinking about ifs and buts now. It is very unfortunate that Nahid Rana is not here," he said, adding that he retained faith in the bowlers available to him.

"I believe the pace unit we have can also use these conditions well. As a batting unit there will definitely be challenges. We have worked on those things. The boys are eager to take on this challenge."

Beyond the bowling, Shanto pointed to broader signs of progress in the side's Test cricket over recent years. Bangladesh finished seventh in the previous World Test Championship cycle but currently sit fourth with eight matches still to play in the ongoing one.

"We have been doing well in Test cricket over the last two or three years. We have improved. In the last cycle of the Test Championship we finished seventh. This time we are fourth. I think we are improving gradually," he said, while acknowledging that further gains with the bat would be needed to sustain that trajectory.

Confidence has also been boosted by Bangladesh's historic ODI series win over Australia on home soil in June, their first at that level against the Australians.

"That gives us a lot of confidence. It was the first time we beat them in an ODI series, and we did it on a very good wicket. Of course we will gain confidence from that. But this is a different format and a different place. We are ready to take on the challenge," Shanto said.

The series also marks Bangladesh's first Test tour of Australia since 2003, and Shanto was clear about what the opportunity means to his squad ahead of the drop-in pitch at Marrara Stadium, a surface type the team had only previously encountered during the 2024 T20 World Cup.

"We have not had the opportunity to play on a drop-in wicket before. But as professional cricketers we have to adapt to these challenges. Our preparation has been good. I hope we can adjust to these conditions," he said.

"There is definitely grass on the wicket, but I think it will be a good wicket. There will be help for both bowling and batting. The bowlers may get a little more assistance."

A heavy innings defeat to a Cricket Australia XI in the warm up match, in which Bangladesh were bowled out for just 54, has raised questions about the tourists' readiness, but Shanto dismissed the result as a one off. "That was a preparation match, such things can happen. We came early to prepare ourselves. I think we have prepared well. I am optimistic that we can play good cricket," he said.

Bangladesh and Australia have met six times in Test cricket, with the hosts winning five, three of them by an innings, against a single Bangladesh victory. The opening Test begins at Marrara Stadium in Darwin on August 13 before the series concludes in Mackay later in the month.