Solution needed for first 10 runs: Taylor

Former captain Mark Taylor has endorsed Steve Smith's assessment that Australia's current Test ranking of fourth – and even a potential slip to sixth – is a fair reflection of their position in the game at present, and believes the batting group needs to find a more reliable way to score their first 10 runs on subcontinental pitches.

Australia's 20-run defeat to Bangladesh in Dhaka has seen them nominally slip from fourth to fifth in the International Cricket Council's Test rankings, which are officially updated at the end of each series. And another loss to a spirited home side in the second Test beginning Monday in Chittagong will see the Aussies drop to sixth, their lowest ranking since 1988.

"I think Steve Smith was right," Taylor said on Channel Nine's Sports Sunday. "I'm not sure Australia are any better than that, and I think that was a pretty frank assessment at the end of the day.

"In India, we were there only a few months ago, we lost that series 2-1 but showed good signs. But the side is not better than that at the moment, they need to keep getting better and they need to find a way, a bit like Matthew Hayden did in 2001.

"As a batsman, you've got to come up with a theory that's going to work for you (when) playing these spin bowlers.

"Particularly when you first go in, because you're nervous – this Australian side hasn't played for a while – and they're all not sure exactly what they should do to make those first 10 runs. Once you do that, it's a hell of a lot easier."

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 Taylor, who is one of just four Australians to have scored a fourth-innings Test hundred in Asia (David Warner joined him, Ricky Ponting and Bob Simpson in Dhaka last week), is well-credentialed to discuss the difficulties confronted by non-Asian batsmen visiting that continent.

He singled out Usman Khawaja – who averages 14.62 from five Tests in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh – as one player who struggles to adapt his game from Australia to the subcontinent.

"It's something that doesn't come easy to (Australians)," he said. "Our pitches are far more even, they're quicker, and they don't tend to hold up.

"So batsmen, particularly Usman Khawaja – he's a guy who's under a bit of pressure at the moment – he's used to the ball coming onto the bat, and when it's not coming onto the bat, you need to find a way of making those first 10 runs.

"Hayden in 2001 decided to sweep, and religiously sweep, nearly every ball, and it worked for him. I think Khawaja and co need to do something similar."

Taylor also weighed into the debate surrounding wicketkeeper Matthew Wade, who he said must be making runs in order to justify his position in the team.

"I think Matthew Wade should be (in the team) provided he's making runs," he added. "And if he's not making runs – he's only averaged 21 since he's been recalled to the side – you get your best 'keeper in, which is Peter Nevill."

Australia in Bangladesh 2017

Australia squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Ashton Agar, Jackson Bird, Hilton Cartwright, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Steve O'Keefe, 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, Bangladesh won by 20 runs

4-8 September Second Test, Chittagong