Stirring of 'The Bull' has Aussies charging

The stirring of 'The Bull' David Warner has Australia charging towards an incredible comeback victory in the first Test in Dhaka, according to paceman Pat Cummins.

With a patchy record on the subcontinent and a first-innings failure fresh in his mind, Warner, in less than a session, single-handedly erased a large chunk of the lead Bangladesh had scrapped together on a gripping third day. 

The left-hander was ruthless in the face of another spin barrage, crunching anything slightly short and showing no fear in skipping down a battered Mirpur surface to attack more flighted offerings.

It was daring Test cricket and Warner's 75 runs, from only 96 balls, helped Australia shave off close to half their fourth-innings victory target of 256. 

While his teammates have recently taken a liking to his new nickname of the 'The Reverend', Cummins revealed Warner's original moniker formed the basis of a key element in Australia's batting plan for the subcontinent. 

"It was amazing. He’s such a big player for us and you could just see it in his eye when he was out there," said the fast bowler, who picked up 1-48 from 14 overs to help restrict the hosts to 221 in their second innings.

"He was so focused. We always say ‘be the bull’ and he looked like he was ‘The Bull’ out there. Just focused and taking the game on. 

"He got his 50 rapidly (off 64 balls) and I think it just changes the whole momentum but also the mindset for the other batsmen who are to come in, just taking the game on. 

"It is great."

Australia's most experienced player with 65 Tests to his name, the vice-captain has gone 34 innings without a century on foreign turf.

While Warner's record at home is imposing (a batting average of 65.60 with nine hundreds), his Test returns abroad have been the only real knock on his game in any format.

With the tourists now 156 runs away from victory, a match-winning century on the fourth day would undoubtedly be one the most important of the 30-year-old's career.

Cummins said Warner had benefited from a team strategy to not overhaul any approach that has been successful on home soil.

"We spoke about, especially in the India series (earlier this year) and again here, really backing what works for you back in Australia," the speedster said.

"So, if you don’t run down the wicket, you don’t have to run down the wicket here. If you don’t sweep, you don’t have to sweep. 

"Just sticking to your game plan but making sure it is a strong game plan. I think today (Warner) showed just a really, really strong solid defence and when he needed to, his brutal stroke making.

"So it is definitely 'The Bull' we have come to expect and it is great to see it out here."

Australia in Bangladesh 2017

Australia squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Ashton Agar, Jackson Bird, Hilton Cartwright, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade.

Bangladesh squad: Mushfiqur Rahim (c), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Shakib Al Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Sabbir Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Liton Das, Taskin Ahmed, Shafiul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Taijul Islam, Mominul Haque.

27-31 August First Test, Dhaka

4-8 September Second Test, Chittagong