In many ways, this is redemption for Bangladesh. On their return to Australian soil after a long break of 23 years, Najmul Shanto’s side beat Pat Cummins’ mighty team by nine wickets to win their first-ever Test match Down Under.
Chasing 57 runs on Sunday, August 16, Bangladesh made short work of the hosts and wrapped up the chase in dominant fashion, reaching the target in 14.2 overs on Day 4 of the first Test in Darwin.
The match turned out to be an absolute hammering for the Australians, who were dominated in every single session by a spirited Bangladesh side that set up the win with some sensational bowling in both innings of the game.
The win marks an important shift in the relationship between the two countries, especially for Bangladesh, who took just three matches to win a Test in Australia, the fastest by any Asian side in the history of the game.
Before 2026, Bangladesh were consistently denied a Test series in Australia after the series was deemed commercially unviable by Cricket Australia. In 2018, Australia told the board that broadcasters were uninterested in showing the series in the middle of the football season.
The stigma, perhaps, stemmed from the fact that Australia viewed Bangladesh as a lesser competition. This was around the time that Australia’s rivalry with India and South Africa was at its peak. They had the Ashes against England anyway, and the trans-Tasman rivalry with New Zealand. So Australia did not really need a team that, in their view, was not going to put up much of a competition.
Even this series was preponed. Bangladesh were supposed to play Australia in March 2027, but the Test series was brought forward so that Australia could clear the calendar for the 150th Anniversary match against England.
With that history setting the backdrop to the series, Bangladesh arrived Down Under knowing very well that they were not exactly welcome on the island. They were not going to play at the regular venues where India, England or South Africa play.
In fact, one of the two venues hosting the series had its last Test match in 2004, while the other has never hosted a men’s Test match in the history of the game.
Now, for Bangladesh, they had two choices: either let their shoulders sink under the treatment or hit back after years of being treated as minnows.
They chose the second option.
Sent in to bowl on a green-tinged wicket in Darwin, the Bangladesh fast bowlers breathed fire on the wicket.
26-year-old Hasan Mahmud wrecked the Australian team with career-best figures of 6/55. The fast bowler was well supported by Taskin Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain, in the absence of their star pacer Nahid Rana, who had terrorised the Australian batters just recently, but in white-ball cricket.
The discipline and ability to hit the correct lengths saw Australia get bowled out for just 198 runs in the first innings, their lowest-ever total against Bangladesh.
Brought down to their knees on Day 1, Australia failed to recover. Apart from a brief spark from Mitchell Starc at the start of the innings, Australia failed to exert much pressure on the Bangladesh batters.
Opener Tanzid Tamim led the way with a stellar 101 off 197 balls, driving anything that was bowled on the up. Supporting him was Najmul Shanto, the Bangladesh captain, who knew how important this match was for his team.
Valuable contributions from Mehidy Hasan (65 off 154) and Mushfiqur Rahim (36 off 55) helped Bangladesh to a big total of 426 runs.
With a massive lead in the first innings, the job was half done. But Bangladesh knew that against Australia, they could not let things slip.
So they turned up once again, this time led by spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz. After the initial burst from Hasan Mahmud, who removed both openers, Travis Head and Jake Weatherald, it was all about Mehidy Hasan Miraz and his guile to pitch the ball in the right areas.
Mehidy dominated the exchanges against the Australian batters, bowling a terrific spell of 5/66. If not for Cameron Green’s hundred, Australia would have sunk in the second innings as well.
But even Cameron Green’s century was not enough, as Australia were bowled out for 284, handing Bangladesh a target of just 57 runs.
– Ends
