Aussies turn up the heat for Bangladesh

Australia's cricketers have taken to the sauna as they seek any possible edge ahead of their departure on the Qantas Tour of Bangladesh.

Test skipper Mushfiqur Rahim and his men are keen to turn up the heat on Australia's inexperienced squad led by new captain Steve Smith, and the nation's climate will not be making things easier.

The Australians will be greeted with 33C days and upwards of 70 per cent humidity in Dhaka and must adapt quickly with a three-day match their only preparation before two Tests matches.

"We know it's going to be hot and humid in Bangladesh and have put some strategies together to minimise the negative effects of the weather conditions and acclimatise as quickly as possible, particularly as there is a short turnaround from the time the team lands in Bangladesh and when they start playing," said Alex Kountouris.

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Johnson sucks an electrolyte ice block in the UAE // Getty

Once the team's highly regarded physiotherapist, Kountouris has wound up his touring days for a role as CA's sports science and sports medicine manager based at the Bupa National Cricket Centre in Brisbane.

Having spent several years working with the Sri Lanka cricket team before linking up with the Australian outfit as Errol Alcott's understudy in 2003, Kountouris is well versed in the demands of hot and humid conditions.

"The use of saunas is one part of the preparation for Bangladesh tour," Kountouris told foxsports.com.au. "Part of this strategy is for players using a sauna on a daily basis in the lead up to the tour.

"There is some research to show the benefit of exposing players to hot conditions, including saunas, before traveling to hot humid climates."

Dealing with heat is not new for several of Australia's squad – Smith, Nathan Lyon, James Faulkner, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve O'Keefe, Peter Siddle and Mitchell Starc were all part of the Australia team that travelled to the UAE last October to play Pakistan.

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Maxwell cools off with an iced towel in Abu Dhabi // Getty

Preparations for that trip, and the data gleaned during it, have helped further sharpen the Australians protocols for dealing with the heat. In the lead up to the UAE tour, players ingested a tiny thermometer inside a capsule before training to measure their core body temperatures.

It allowed personalised hydration and climate control plans to be developed – for example, the hirsute Maxwell retains heat and needs longer cooling than the wiry Lyon.

"We've been getting in the sauna for about 20 minutes each day just to try start acclimatising to the heat," Lyon told foxsports.com.au.

"We've been told that should help, so we've been putting that to practice.

"We've been training, then going and sitting in the sauna for 20 minutes. It's been pretty interesting.

"It's a little bit different, having that one little bit of heat. Hopefully it works and gets us in a good place."

Australia are schedule to play a BCB XI in a three-day warm-up match starting October 3 before the first Test in Chittagong on October 9.

The importance of core body temperature testing