Cricket Australia confirm pre-Bangladesh tour camp

Australia will conduct a week-long training camp in Darwin ahead of their Qantas Tour of Bangladesh in August, Cricket Australia confirmed on Saturday.

The cricket board's official website reported that the team will set out on a seven-day training camp from August 10 –- the camp also includes an intra-squad match at the Marrara Cricket Ground on August 14.

The Australia squad that was announced for the tour currently features 13 members. The selectors are likely to add a fast bowler to the Test squad after the conclusion of Australia A’s tour of South Africa.

Hilton Cartwright and Ashton Agar, who are members of the Australia A one-day squad have already been included in the Test squad.

Australia team are expected to fly for Dhaka on August 18 – the first Test is scheduled to be held on August 27.

Cricket Australia's team performance manager Pat Howard said: "We're extremely grateful to the support received from the Northern Territory Government and NT Cricket for assisting in facilitating this camp ahead of our Test tour of Bangladesh.”

"Darwin will provide the ideal acclimatisation ahead of the tour and the facilities at Marrara Cricket Ground are first-class.

"We're working closely with NT Cricket to replicate conditions in Bangladesh, as we did in Dubai for the Indian Test tour earlier this year, so the squad gets the best preparation possible before departing from Darwin directly to Bangladesh."

The decision was based on the first-class training opportunities that Darwin will provide and there are a variety of pitch options to choose from and also opposition for competitive matches.

NT Cricket CEO Troy Watson said."We can offer a valuable preparation environment and simulate similar conditions to those the team will face during their tour of Bangladesh in late August, which will be of great benefit to everyone.”

Australia’s tour begins with a two-day warm-up match at Fatullah ground.  This is Australia’s second Test tour of Bangladesh – they played in Bangladesh back in April 2006, Australia won the two-Test-series 2-0.