Simmons hails growing belief ahead of second Australia Test

Mackay, 20 August 2026:

Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons says his team has quickly shifted its focus to the second Test against Australia after making history with a nine-wicket win in Darwin.

Bangladesh arrived in Mackay with renewed confidence after recording its first Test victory on Australian soil in the opening match of the two-Test series. The landmark result has given the touring side a 1-0 series lead, but Simmons said the emphasis in training has been on ensuring the players are mentally ready for the next challenge.

“Preparation, we started well,” Simmons said after training. “Today was good. Today was about getting back in the right frame of mind.

“So, I think everybody seems to be in that right frame of mind for a second Test match.”

Simmons believes Bangladesh’s recent improvement in Test cricket has been driven by the environment within the squad and the growing trust among the players.

“The environment has been good for a long time and now there’s even more respect for each other, which is important,” Simmons said. “And there’s more belief in each other, which is what you want in any dressing room.”

Bangladesh’s commanding win in Darwin marked a significant milestone for the team, but Simmons indicated that the progress within the group extends beyond a single result. He credited the players’ belief in one another as a key factor behind the side’s increasingly consistent Test performances.

“That’s been very good and the reason why we seem to be playing better every time we play Test cricket,” Simmons said.

Bangladesh will now look to carry the momentum from Darwin into the second and final Test in Mackay as it seeks to complete a historic series victory over Australia. The second Test will be played from 22 to 26 August.

“So, it’s good,” Simmons said. “The environment is really good.”