Bangladesh earn vote of confidence

Bangladesh have been given a vote of confidence by world cricket chief Malcolm Speed despite another set of heavy defeats - this time in Australia.

The newcomers are still looking for their first Test victory and have only one draw among 20 losses to show for their efforts since joining the big league three years ago.

But Speed, chief executive of the International Cricket Council, said: "I believe Bangladesh will win Tests and one-day internationals within the next two years and, compared to the progress made by other countries when they came in, that would be a good result."

Although Bangladesh predictably lost both Tests and all three one-day internationals in Australia, they made the double world champions work harder than most people expected.

If Speed is right, and new coach Dav Whatmore (formerly of Sri Lanka) continues to make improvements, England will need to be on their guard. They tour Bangladesh this autumn and then play host to them in 2005.

Veteran bowler Mike Smith struck two early blows for Gloucestershire in their Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy semi-final against Derbyshire at Bristol.