‘We want to get Shakib out early’

Bangladesh star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been in a rich vein of form with the bat in the ongoing cricket World Cup, becoming the highest run-getter in the tournament. He is making runs and making them fast with a lot of authority. Australia's Alex Carey said that the plan is to get Shakib's wicket early.

Shakib is the batting's mainstay at this World Cup and his wicket will not only be crucial in itself, it could also be a fatal blow to the Tigers' morale. Carey said that Shakib is the big fish, considering the value he holds for the Tigers.

"Bangladesh are playing some really good cricket at the moment and it's led by Shakib. So we've obviously put our time into Shakib and all the players at the top of the order as well as their bowling," he said. Shakib had earlier warned that he or the Banglandesh batsmen do not have anything to fear from Australia bowlers. Carey was asked if it would be a battle between Bangladesh batsmen and Aussie pacers.

"Yeah, it's exciting to come up against a team that's in good form. And I think we're in really good form as well. So it's going to be a great game tomorrow.

Carey expected that it would be a good surface to bat on.

"Conditions here normally suit batters. And it's normally high-scoring events here, which is exciting. But hopefully we obviously rock up tomorrow and play really well. And, like I said, Shakib is in really good form. He's one guy we want to get out early," he said.

Other batsmen like Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad and Tamim Iqbal have done well in phases. So Carey added that focus will be on other batsmen too. "But along with the other guys as well, they've come in and done really well," Carey concluded.