Australia today made sure another lapse of discipline by Andrew Symonds had no on-field bearing, thrashing Bangladesh by 180 runs in the first one-day cricket international at TIO Stadium.
The world champions sent Symonds home after he missed a team meeting yesterday because he was fishing, which rekindled memories of Australia's loss to the minnow in 2005, which was preceded by a Symonds drinking binge.
But opener Shaun Marsh retained his composure with an elegant 76 in his first international innings on home soil, and another Mike Hussey gem took the home side to 8-254 from 50 overs.
Hussey made 85 from 87 balls and provided the aggression in Symonds' absence, smashing three fours and a six off the 48th over.
In reply, Bangladesh were on the back foot from the fourth over, when Stuart Clark first struck, and the tourists were rolled for a measly 74 in 27.4 overs.
The visitors' two best batsmen, Tamim Iqbal and captain Mohammad Ashraful, found the pace of Mitchell Johnson too tough to negotiate, while several of their teammates played dreadful shots to get out.
Iqbal (21) was the only batsman to pass 20 but was out in the ninth over when he scooped a rising delivery to Brett Geeves to third man, while Ashraful made a mess of a skidder and was leg before for five two overs later.
Johnson finished with 2-10, Geeves took 2-11 in his one-day international debut and legspinner Cameron White cashed in with 3-5 at the end, his best figures.
Clark bowled well early for a return of 1-18 from seven overs and also ran out Alok Kopali from a direct hit at the striker's end from mid-on.
But Ashraful, who swivelled and played back when he should have been forward, and several of his teammates were largely at fault for their dismissals.
Australia's comfortable win ensured Symonds' indiscretion did not come back to haunt them, as it did in Cardiff on the 2005 Ashes tour.
Australia decided to send the Queensland allrounder home for failing to attend a team meeting yesterday because he was fishing, and his absence was noticeable as the home side lacked its most destructive batsman.
But Hussey took command from the 40th over and batted beautifully until he was bowled off the final delivery of the innings.
That wicket was the last of three in four balls to Shahadat Hossain (3-42), who finished with the pick of the figures despite an erratic start.
Opening paceman Mashrafe Mortaza was the pick of the Bangladesh bowlers, with 0-31 from his 10 overs, while spinner Abdur Razzak produced the ball of the innings, to bowl Marsh through the gate.
Bangladesh's score was their lowest in a one-day international, surpassing the 76 they made against India in 2003.
The next match is on Wednesday and the third next Saturday.
