Bangladesh in Australia 2026, AUS vs BAN 1st Test Match Report, August 13 - 17, 2026

Hasan Mahmud’s third five-wicket haul in Tests led the way as Bangladesh bowled out Australia for 198 on the first evening of the Darwin Test, the first in Australia for Bangladesh in 23 years. It was the stuff of dreams for Bangladesh, who lost the toss and had to field, but then got exactly the sort of performance from their quicks that they have begun to expect.

Mahmud had Steven Smith, Australia’s best batter of the day, caught off a slog and Australia slipped to 189 for 9 soon after tea. Smith made 71 off 109 balls with seven fours and a six in an effort that stood between Australia and a total batting disaster. That made it five for Mahmud, and he made it six when he got Nathan Lyon to top edge a pull to midwicket to signal the end of the innings.

Taskin Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain took two wickets each as well, making it only the second instance of fast bowlers taking all ten wickets in a Test innings for Bangladesh after the second Test in Rawalpindi in 2024, where Mahmud had taken a five-for. Mahmud’s 6 for 55 in Darwin, in fact, were the third-best figures by a Bangladesh quick in Test cricket.

The three fast bowlers were rewarded for their consistent lines and lengths in conditions with lateral movement, which suited them.

The only time Australia were strong was during the fifth-wicket partnership between Smith and Alex Carey, who added 55 together. After a flurry of boundaries at the start of the second session, Bangladesh dried up the runs, and were soon among the wickets.

Ebadot first got the ball to sneak through Carey’s defences off the inside edge immediately after the drinks break. Carey made 19, not quite the contribution Australia would have hoped for from one of their form batters.

Taskin then bowled Beau Webster with a perfect Test-match delivery that seamed away a little bit, beating the batter’s outside edge to hit the stumps. Mahmud wasn’t to be left behind, getting Pat Cummins, the Australia captain, caught behind for nine. Mitchell Starc fell to the same bowler in the same way next over for the second session to go Bangladesh’s way after they had won the first as well.

Openers Jake Weatherald and Travis Head couldn’t get going, as both fell to Mahmud. Weatherald was out driving a wide one from Mahmud, who had teased him all morning with similar deliveries mixed with fast induckers. Head was undone by Mahmud’s around-the-wicket angle, choked for the first time in his innings as he edged one on to his stumps.

Ebadot hardly allowed much room either as he removed Marnus Labuschagne for another low score, caught at second slip where captain Najmul Hossain Shanto took a fine catch.

The first session ended strongly for Bangladesh thanks to Taskin, who had Cameron Green caught at midwicket, where Mushfiqur Rahim took a sharp tumbling catch.

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