Australia crashed to 198 all out on day one of the first Test in Darwin on Thursday, as Bangladesh pace bowler Hasan Mahmud claimed a career-best 6-55. Steve Smith hit a defiant 71, surviving multiple reprieves before the visitors replied strongly to reach 96-1 at stumps.
Australian cricket faced a stark reality check in the Top End on Thursday, enduring a difficult opening day in the first Test against Bangladesh at Marrara Stadium. After home captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat, the hosts were bundled out for 198 in 53 overs.
The collapse brought familiar top-order frailties to the surface, leaving former captain Ricky Ponting to question selectors for sticking with an experienced core rather than blooding fresh talent. In reply, Bangladesh played with freedom and composure, finishing the day at 96-1 to trail by just 102 runs.
Hasan Mahmud Tears Through Australia’s Lineup
Bangladesh arrived in Darwin playing their first Test series in Australia since 2003, carrying the baggage of a heavy defeat against Zimbabwe in June. Yet they showed no early nerves on a green-tinged pitch that offered genuine assistance to the seamers.
After Australia’s opening pair raced to 45 without loss, Hasan Mahmud struck with disciplined lines, removing Jake Weatherald for 23 and Travis Head for 22 in quick succession. Weatherald, playing in front of his home crowd in Darwin, struggled through a 37-delivery stay before edging behind.
Steve Smith Survives Reprieves to Post 71
While his teammates fell around him, Steve Smith played a characteristically idiosyncratic innings, though fortune favored him throughout a chaotic morning session. Smith should have departed on two when a thick edge slipped through the fingers of Tanzid Hasan at third slip off Ebadot Hossain.
Soon after, Smith survived a loud caught-behind appeal off Ebadot when batting on seven. Umpire Kumar Dharmasena remained unmoved, and though Smith appeared to begin walking toward the pavilion, Real Time Snicko showed no spike on the outside edge.
“I think so, yeah. I was lucky? Yeah, it seems that way. You got to take it sometimes.”
Steve Smith
Smith eventually top-edged a short ball from Hasan to wicketkeeper Litton Das. His top score of 71 off 109 balls included seven boundaries and a six, holding the innings together before the tail subsided.
Tourists Take Control with Bat and Ball
Australia reassembled their frontline bowling attack known as the Big Four—Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Nathan Lyon—for the first time in 13 months. Yet the bowling group made minimal headway against a resolute visiting batting lineup.
Mitchell Starc did manage to break through by inducing a leading edge from Shadman Islam, taking his career Test wicket tally to 434 to cement his status as the most prolific left-arm bowler in Test history. Nathan Lyon held the catch at cover point to dismiss Islam for 20.
From there, Mominul Haque and Tanzid Hasan took complete control, sharing an unbeaten 60-run stand. Mominul finished the day on 35 not out alongside Tanzid on 32 not out, steering Bangladesh safely to stumps at 96 for 1 and leaving the hosts searching for answers ahead of day two.
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