Twenty-three years after their country’s first tour of Australia, Bangladesh are back Down Under for just their second Test series on Australian soil – and the challenge facing them could hardly be greater.

Bangladesh’s first visit came in 2003, when Australia won the two Tests 2-0 and the three-match ODI series 3-0. Their only other bilateral visit came in 2008, when they were swept 3-0 in a short ODI series. Now, they return for two Tests – in Darwin from August 13 and Mackay from August 22 – against a full-strength Australian side returning to Test cricket after more than six months away from the format.

Australia’s last Test was against England in Sydney in January. Since then, Usman Khawaja has retired and Michael Neser has dropped out of the playing XI, while captain Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon return after the trio managed only three Ashes appearances between them.

Travis Head is also expected to continue as a Test opener after his extraordinary Ashes series at the top of the order. With no other specialist opener selected in the squad, Head looks set to continue alongside Jake Weatherald.

The major selection question is likely to come in the bowling attack. Cummins is an automatic selection, but how Australia fit Mitchell Starc, Hazlewood, Scott Boland and Lyon into the remaining positions will be intriguing. Australia also have a vacancy in their top seven following Khawaja’s retirement. Alex Carey has indicated that he is willing to move up to No.5, potentially opening the door for a different balance to the side.

For Bangladesh, meanwhile, the problems are considerably greater. They are without Nahid Rana, who played a key role in consecutive Test series wins over Pakistan, while Shoriful Islam’s fitness remains uncertain. Soumya Sarkar returns to Test cricket after more than five years away, while wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das was a late addition to the squad.

And there were worrying signs in the visitors’ warm-up game against a Cricket Australia XI, where Bangladesh were bowled out for just 54 in their second innings and lost by an innings.

Darwin itself adds an interesting historical footnote. Marrara Stadium has hosted very little international cricket, but the two previous Tests there came in 2003 and 2004. Australia beat Bangladesh by an innings and 132 runs before defeating Sri Lanka by 149 runs. In fact, Bangladesh have played in Darwin more than any other visiting side, having also featured in a three-match ODI series there in 2008.

With Hazlewood back, Australia at full strength and Bangladesh depleted, the odds appear heavily stacked in the hosts’ favour. A 2-0 Australian victory looks the most likely outcome.

But, as Test cricket has repeatedly reminded us, strange things can happen on Australian shores.