Mackay, 21 August (H.S.): Australia are considering leaving out off-spinner Nathan Lyon and fielding an all-pace attack of three fast bowlers in the second Test against Bangladesh. Meanwhile, batter Matthew Renshaw is set to return to the Australian side.

Australia captain Pat Cummins, as quoted by Cricket Australia, said the final playing XI would be decided after an inspection of the conditions at the venue on Saturday, before the toss. The team management is considering bringing Scott Boland into the side and opting for a pace-heavy attack for the second Test at the Great Barrier Reef Arena.

Under Cummins' captaincy, Australia have never left Lyon out of a Test side when the spinner has been fit and available. However, Australia did field an all-pace attack without a specialist spinner in two pink-ball Tests last year.

Renshaw last played a Test for Australia against India in 2023, and his return to the playing XI now appears almost certain. He could also open the innings once again. Renshaw scored a century as an opener against Pakistan during the 2016-17 season when he was only 20 years old.

The Queensland batter has also scored two first-class centuries in Mackay. He has been brought into the squad in place of Jake Weatherald, who has been dropped after featuring in just one Test.

Australia squad: Pat Cummins (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.

Bangladesh squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (vice-captain), Soumya Sarkar, Shadman Islam, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Amit Hasan, Jaker Ali Anik, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury, Musfik Hasan, Shoriful Islam.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar