Australian cricket stars Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden have relentlessly pushed for changes in the playing XI following Australia’s most shocking Test defeat in history against Bangladesh. The series opener in Darwin saw the travelling Asian team stun the full-strength Australian side inside four days and by nine wickets to register their first Test win Down Under, and second overall against Australia in this format. However, head coach Andrew McDonald has urged patience with the ageing squad and those under the radar, including opener Jake Weatherald and former number one Test batter Marnus Labuschagne. &nbsp;Players like veteran Nathan Lyon, who picked just one wicket on his return to the Test team, and Cameron Green, who almost saved his place with a second-innings hundred, are also under scrutiny; McDonald seeks better player management in the quest to make a comeback in this two-match Test series. The second Test starts on August 22 in Mackay.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kris-srikkanth-rejects-eoin-morgan-csk-head-coach-michael-hussey-1786945988718">‘Won’t Accept Him’: Kris Srikkanth rejects Ashwin’s pick Eoin Morgan for CSK coach role</a> &nbsp;"I'm the last one to want to make change," Ponting said in a statement to Channel Seven after the first Test concluded. "As a captain or as a player, I wanted to keep a group together, so it has to get to a bad point before I start saying you've got to leave somebody out. &nbsp;"But there's been enough evidence for me coming here (Darwin) to suggest they weren't going to lose anything, or much at all, by starting that regeneration, bringing in another opener, bringing in someone at three... I think that has to happen,” he continued. &nbsp;While Travis Head also fared poorly, getting bowled out identically to Hasan Mahmud in two innings, Weatherald’s technical flaws and Labuschagne’s stubbornness to not learn from his mistakes put them at the forefront of any changes, should it happen. &nbsp;"The 1-2-3, as Ricky and I will tell you, are absolutely fundamental to the set-up of a batting team," former opener Matthew Hayden told the same broadcaster. &nbsp;“When they are constantly putting that middle order under pressure, Steve Smith arriving way earlier than he ever needs to be, then you've got to start to answer those questions.”<h2>Coach Urges Patience</h2>McDonald has come out in support of his team and the players, saying Bangladesh exposing the age-factor crisis in Australian cricket would remain a concern; however, he would not shy from making any changes for the deciding Test. &nbsp;"It's always going to be a conversation, the age profile of the team, where we're at, how we're travelling. A loss doesn't help that," said McDonald. "But these players have got a fair bit of cricket left in them, I believe. &nbsp;"It's just really how we navigate through it. There's always going to be calls for change on the back of a loss. There's going to be an emotion around that from the outside – and even internally. Our guys sit in that change room, and they're feeling it. You feel a Test loss. It means a lot to them to play for Australia, so let's not lose that in all this as well. &nbsp;"The easy option is to call for change. A lot of people call for change even when we're winning. They're entitled to do that as well on the back of a performance like that. Why wouldn't they? That's part of our lot,” he added.

Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden demand squad changes after Australia's historic Darwin Test loss to Bangladesh, but coach Andrew McDonald urges patience.

Australian cricket stars Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden have relentlessly pushed for changes in the playing XI following Australia’s most shocking Test defeat in history against Bangladesh. The series opener in Darwin saw the travelling Asian team stun the full-strength Australian side inside four days and by nine wickets to register their first Test win Down Under, and second overall against Australia in this format. However, head coach Andrew McDonald has urged patience with the ageing squad and those under the radar, including opener Jake Weatherald and former number one Test batter Marnus Labuschagne. Players like veteran Nathan Lyon, who picked just one wicket on his return to the Test team, and Cameron Green, who almost saved his place with a second-innings hundred, are also under scrutiny; McDonald seeks better player management in the quest to make a comeback in this two-match Test series. The second Test starts on August 22 in Mackay. Also read| ‘Won’t Accept Him’: Kris Srikkanth rejects Ashwin’s pick Eoin Morgan for CSK coach role "I'm the last one to want to make change," Ponting said in a statement to Channel Seven after the first Test concluded. "As a captain or as a player, I wanted to keep a group together, so it has to get to a bad point before I start saying you've got to leave somebody out. "But there's been enough evidence for me coming here (Darwin) to suggest they weren't going to lose anything, or much at all, by starting that regeneration, bringing in another opener, bringing in someone at three... I think that has to happen,” he continued. While Travis Head also fared poorly, getting bowled out identically to Hasan Mahmud in two innings, Weatherald’s technical flaws and Labuschagne’s stubbornness to not learn from his mistakes put them at the forefront of any changes, should it happen. "The 1-2-3, as Ricky and I will tell you, are absolutely fundamental to the set-up of a batting team," former opener Matthew Hayden told the same broadcaster. “When they are constantly putting that middle order under pressure, Steve Smith arriving way earlier than he ever needs to be, then you've got to start to answer those questions.” Coach Urges Patience McDonald has come out in support of his team and the players, saying Bangladesh exposing the age-factor crisis in Australian cricket would remain a concern; however, he would not shy from making any changes for the deciding Test. "It's always going to be a conversation, the age profile of the team, where we're at, how we're travelling. A loss doesn't help that," said McDonald. "But these players have got a fair bit of cricket left in them, I believe. "It's just really how we navigate through it. There's always going to be calls for change on the back of a loss. There's going to be an emotion around that from the outside – and even internally. Our guys sit in that change room, and they're feeling it. You feel a Test loss. It means a lot to them to play for Australia, so let's not lose that in all this as well. "The easy option is to call for change. A lot of people call for change even when we're winning. They're entitled to do that as well on the back of a performance like that. Why wouldn't they? That's part of our lot,” he added.

Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden demand squad changes after Australia's historic Darwin Test loss to Bangladesh, but coach Andrew McDonald urges patience.

Ponting, Hayden push for changes after 'Darwin disaster' but coach urges patience with ageing squad

Australian captain Pat Cummins made no excuses for his team’s shocking nine-wicket loss against Bangladesh in the first of the two Tests in Darwin on Sunday (Aug 16). Cummins led a full-strength Australian XI for the series opener but failed to replicate Steve Waugh, who guided Australia to an innings win over Bangladesh at the very venue 23 years ago. While Cummins expressed no concerns over Australia's preparation for the first Test, he hinted at returning to the drawing board and making changes to the XI for the next Test if necessary. &nbsp;Bangladesh, on the other hand, entered this Test on the back of getting folded for just 54 in their scheduled warm-up tie against Cricket Australia XI; they, however, did the unthinkable by beating the mighty Aussies for their first Test win Down Under, and only their second-ever against Australia in Tests. Chasing a mere 57 in the final innings, Bangladesh lost their opener and first-inning hero, Tanzid Hasan, for a duck before Shadman and Mominul stitched a stand to see Bangladesh home with nine wickets remaining. &nbsp;"I thought our preparation was pretty much spot-on. I thought it was excellent, so, yeah, no excuses," Cummins said at the post-match presentation. "They [Bangladesh] played really well. I thought the day one wicket, [there was] a little bit [in it] early but obviously [we've] got to try and find a way to bat a little bit longer than we did, and then just couldn't penetrate with the ball." &nbsp;"They outplayed us in all facets. I thought they were really patient and quite disciplined. Once we were behind, it was really hard to get back,” he continued.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bangladesh-biggest-win-any-format-shanto-darwin-test-victory-australia-1786861817079">'Our Biggest Win Ever': Captain Shanto on Bangladesh's historic Darwin Test triumph over Australia</a> &nbsp;The Australian cricket team has been in such situations over the years, and has successfully bounced back. Cummins, however, is not ready to back down, reminding everyone of how well the Aussies know about making a comeback. &nbsp;"I think every time there's a game like this, you always kind of look at your match-ups and your make-up with the team for the next one. But we only just finished, [so] we'll have a think about it," Cummins said. “We're pretty good at bouncing back, so no doubt the batters and every group will get together and have a good think about this one and where we can improve.”<h2>Ponting Suggests Changes</h2>Commenting from the broadcast booth, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting suggested that it’s inevitable for the hosts to make changes for the second Test match, starting with one at number three, where Marnus Labuschagne's struggles have persisted for some time. &nbsp; &nbsp;"I think it's inevitable they have to make a change," Ponting said on Channel 7. "I was on the record at the end of last summer thinking that this was the ideal time to start to regenerate this team because the performances from some of the players. I'm the last one (I want) to make change. As a captain or as a player, I wanted to keep the group together. So it has to get to a bad point before I start saying you ought to leave somebody out. &nbsp;“But there had been enough evidence for me coming here to suggest that they weren't going to lose anything or much at all by starting that regeneration, by maybe bringing in another opener, by maybe bringing in someone at No. 3,” Ponting continued.&nbsp;

Pat Cummins accepts no excuses after Australia's shocking 9-wicket defeat to Bangladesh in Darwin, while Ricky Ponting calls for lineup changes ahead of the second Test.

Australian captain Pat Cummins made no excuses for his team’s shocking nine-wicket loss against Bangladesh in the first of the two Tests in Darwin on Sunday (Aug 16). Cummins led a full-strength Australian XI for the series opener but failed to replicate Steve Waugh, who guided Australia to an innings win over Bangladesh at the very venue 23 years ago. While Cummins expressed no concerns over Australia's preparation for the first Test, he hinted at returning to the drawing board and making changes to the XI for the next Test if necessary. Bangladesh, on the other hand, entered this Test on the back of getting folded for just 54 in their scheduled warm-up tie against Cricket Australia XI; they, however, did the unthinkable by beating the mighty Aussies for their first Test win Down Under, and only their second-ever against Australia in Tests. Chasing a mere 57 in the final innings, Bangladesh lost their opener and first-inning hero, Tanzid Hasan, for a duck before Shadman and Mominul stitched a stand to see Bangladesh home with nine wickets remaining. "I thought our preparation was pretty much spot-on. I thought it was excellent, so, yeah, no excuses," Cummins said at the post-match presentation. "They [Bangladesh] played really well. I thought the day one wicket, [there was] a little bit [in it] early but obviously [we've] got to try and find a way to bat a little bit longer than we did, and then just couldn't penetrate with the ball." "They outplayed us in all facets. I thought they were really patient and quite disciplined. Once we were behind, it was really hard to get back,” he continued. Also read| 'Our Biggest Win Ever': Captain Shanto on Bangladesh's historic Darwin Test triumph over Australia The Australian cricket team has been in such situations over the years, and has successfully bounced back. Cummins, however, is not ready to back down, reminding everyone of how well the Aussies know about making a comeback. "I think every time there's a game like this, you always kind of look at your match-ups and your make-up with the team for the next one. But we only just finished, [so] we'll have a think about it," Cummins said. “We're pretty good at bouncing back, so no doubt the batters and every group will get together and have a good think about this one and where we can improve.” Ponting Suggests Changes Commenting from the broadcast booth, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting suggested that it’s inevitable for the hosts to make changes for the second Test match, starting with one at number three, where Marnus Labuschagne's struggles have persisted for some time. "I think it's inevitable they have to make a change," Ponting said on Channel 7. "I was on the record at the end of last summer thinking that this was the ideal time to start to regenerate this team because the performances from some of the players. I'm the last one (I want) to make change. As a captain or as a player, I wanted to keep the group together. So it has to get to a bad point before I start saying you ought to leave somebody out. “But there had been enough evidence for me coming here to suggest that they weren't going to lose anything or much at all by starting that regeneration, by maybe bringing in another opener, by maybe bringing in someone at No. 3,” Ponting continued.

Pat Cummins accepts no excuses after Australia's shocking 9-wicket defeat to Bangladesh in Darwin, while Ricky Ponting calls for lineup changes ahead of the second Test.

‘We’re Pretty Good at Bouncing Back’: Cummins confident after shock Darwin Test loss to Bangladesh

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Ponting, Hayden push for changes after 'Darwin disaster' but coach urges patience with ageing squad

‘We’re Pretty Good at Bouncing Back’: Cummins confident after Darwin Test loss