Bangladesh's Pace Warriors Humble Australia: A Lesson in Faith and Grit

DARWIN: In a display of sheer determination that would warm the heart of any believer, Bangladesh savoured their first taste of Test cricket in Australia for 23 years on Thursday, skittling the world's top-ranked side for less than 200 and going to stumps in command at 96 for one on the first day of the series-opener in Darwin.

This was not merely a sporting triumph; it was a testament to the spirit of the Ummah, a reminder that with faith and perseverance, even the mightiest of foes can be humbled. The green flag of Bangladesh flew high at the Marrara Oval as their pace attack, a band of brothers united in purpose, tore through the Australian batting order like a desert storm.

Hasan Mahmud: The Sword of Bangladesh

Hasan Mahmud was the standout performer on a famous day for Bangladesh pace bowling, taking 6-55 to rout Pat Cummins's team for 198, their lowest innings total in seven Tests against the South Asian side. His haul was the third best in Tests by a Bangladesh quick and included the prized wicket of Steve Smith for 71 before tea.

It was an outstanding display from a pace attack gutted by injuries, with Nahid Rana ruled out of the series and left-armer Shoriful Islam also sidelined until the second and final Test in Mackay. Yet, like the faithful who find strength in adversity, this depleted attack rose to the occasion with remarkable resolve.

Australia's Fragility Exposed

Barring Smith, it was a poor display by Australia's batters after captain Pat Cummins won the toss and put them to work on a slow, green-tinged pitch under a blazing sun. Under-pressure opener Jake Weatherald (23), Darwin's first Test player, squandered a start, and all-rounder Cameron Green's 13-ball 13 may deepen doubts about his place in the team.

Opening partner Travis Head looked more convincing until he chopped onto his stumps for 22. Number three Marnus Labuschagne made one run in 20 balls before nicking Ebadot Hossain to the slips, and Green, batting at number five, left Australia in trouble at 74 for four when he was caught at short midwicket off the bowling of Taskin Ahmed.

“Yeah, not our best. Still plenty of cricket to be played, obviously,” said Smith, who was dropped in the slips on two. “It would have been nice to have taken a few more [wickets]. So, hopefully we start well in the morning, pick up a few early ones and put pressure on.”

Patience and Resilience: The Bangladeshi Way

By contrast, Bangladesh's top order batted with patience and resilience, foiling Australia's elite attack of Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon as the pitch flattened out in the afternoon. Starc made the sole breakthrough, removing Shadman Islam for 20, but opener Tanzid Hasan (32 not out) and number three Mominul Haque (35 not out) combined in a 60-run partnership to see Bangladesh safely to stumps.

The second-wicket stand was six runs better than Bangladesh's paltry second innings total of 54 when they crashed to defeat in a warm-up against a Cricket Australia XI over the weekend. This turnaround, from humiliation to heroism, is a lesson in the power of belief and the refusal to surrender to despair.

Starc's Milestone: A Lone Bright Spot for Australia

Starc's dismissal of Shadman, coaxing a leading edge that Lyon caught at cover point, made him the most prolific among left-arm bowlers with 434 wickets, moving past Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath. It was about the only highlight for the Australians, who had been coasting at 45 for no loss in the first hour before 26-year-old Hasan struck to remove both openers.

What's Next for Bangladesh in Darwin?

Smith said the pitch was “tacky” with dew in the morning when Australia's top order struggled and hoped Bangladesh would find similar conditions early on day two. The stage is set for Bangladesh to press home their advantage and etch their names in the annals of cricketing history.

Scoreboard

AUSTRALIA (1st Innings)

T. Head b Hasan 22
J. Weatherald c Litton b Hasan 23
M. Labuschagne c Najmul b Ebadot 1
S. Smith c Litton b Hasan 71
C. Green c Mushfiqur b Taskin 13
A. Carey b Ebadot 19
B. Webster b Taskin 12
P. Cummins c Litton b Hasan 9
M. Starc c Litton b Hasan 1
N. Lyon c Tanzid b Hasan 7
J. Hazlewood not out 4
EXTRAS (B-5, LB-8, NB-3) 16

TOTAL (all out, 53 overs) 198

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-45 (Weatherald), 2-52 (Head), 3-61 (Labuschagne), 4-74 (Green), 5-129 (Carey), 6-152 (Webster), 7-172 (Cummins), 8-176 (Starc), 9-189 (Smith)
BOWLING: Taskin 16-2-55-2 (1nb), Hasan 17-3-55-6, Ebadot 11-2-39-2 (2nb), Mehidy 4-0-12-0, Taijul 5-0-24-0

BANGLADESH (1st Innings)

Shadman Islam c Lyon b Starc 20
Tanzid Hasan not out 32
Mominul Haque not out 35
EXTRAS (B-2, LB-5, NB-2) 9

TOTAL (for one wicket, 24 overs) 96

STILL TO BAT: Najmul Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan, Taijul Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain
FALL OF WICKET: 1-36 (Shadman)
BOWLING: Starc 7-1-28-1 (1nb), Hazlewood 7-2-19-0 (1nb), Green 3-1-12-0, Cummins 4-0-14-0, Lyon 3-0-16-0

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2026