Bangladesh’s seam attack eclipsed Australia’s famed "Big Four" on the opening day of the first Test, sending the hosts crashing to 198 all out while Hasan Mahmud claimed a career‑best 6 for 55. The visitors’ top order then steadied themselves, reaching 96 for 1 at stumps and cutting the deficit to just 102 runs.
Having suffered a heavy defeat to Zimbabwe in June – an innings and 85 runs loss – Bangladesh entered the Darwin Test with a point to prove. This series marks their first Test tour of Australia since 2003, and they began it in spectacular fashion.
Australia, meanwhile, are gearing up for a grueling schedule that will see them play at least twenty Tests over the next twelve months, with tours to New Zealand, South Africa, India and the Ashes in England slated for June 18 at Trent Bridge. After the first day, Australian captain Steve Smith conceded that the performance was "not our best" and added, "There’s still plenty of cricket left to play. 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." Mahmud was the star of the day for Bangladesh, delivering a disciplined line and length that paid dividends in his sixth and seventh overs when he dismissed openers Jake Weatherald (23) and Travis Head (22). Australia had won the toss and begun their innings on a green‑tinged pitch, racing to 45 without loss before the first breakthrough.
Mahmud’s spell, supported by fellow pacemen Taskin Ahmed (2‑55) and Ebadot Hossain (2‑39), dominated the first two sessions, exploiting the conditions and keeping the Australian batting line‑up under constant pressure. The only real resistance came from Smith, who fought back with a defiant 71, hitting seven fours and a six before falling as the penultimate wicket.
He edged a delivery from Mahmud to wicket‑keeper Litton Das, ending a solid but insufficient innings. The day began positively for the hosts when Pat Cummins won the toss. Playing his second Test in 13 months, Cummins reunited with the rest of the "Big Four" – Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and veteran off‑spinner Nathan Lyon – to form a frontline attack that has long been the backbone of Australian Test cricket. The crowd, many of whom were Darwin locals, cheered for Weatherald, but he never settled and offered a loose shot that Mahmud seized, dismissing him.
Head fell shortly after, caught off a delivery that swung around the wicket, leaving Australia at 52 for 2. Bangladesh continued to apply relentless pressure. Ebadot claimed Marnus Labuschagne (1) with a catch taken by Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, and he also had an early chance on Smith that was ultimately dropped at third slip.
By the end of the opening session, the hosts were 74 for 4, with all‑rounder Cameron Green (13) falling just before lunch. After the break, Ebadot dismissed Alex Carey (19) and Taskin removed Beau Webster (12). Mahmud then struck again, sending Cummins (9) and Starc (1) back to the pavilion with edges, before finishing the innings in the 53rd over by taking the wickets of Smith and Lyon. Despite having their premier pace quartet back together, Australia managed only a single Bangladesh wicket in reply.
Mominul Haque (35) and Tanzid Hasan (32) forged an unbeaten partnership of 60 runs, ensuring Bangladesh held a lead of 102 runs at the close of play. Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, speaking to Channel 7, reflected on the state of the national side: "Look, what's the state of Australian cricket? This has been a very, very successful cricket team. (But) right now, there are a couple of chinks in the armour and the selectors decided to stick with what they know.
At the end of last season, I thought the time was right now to blood a couple of youngsters into these two Test matches. I said (Campbell) Kellaway and (Ollie) Peake were the ones that I wanted to have. So they decided not to do that. But my worry is, when do they do that?
Are you going to debut these guys in South Africa against (Kagiso) Rabada and (Marco) Jansen and co? I think that would be a whole lot harder. So I just feel there's an opportunity here that may have been missed." Bangladesh’s performance in Darwin not only gave them a commanding first‑innings lead but also sent a clear message to the cricketing world: the team is capable of competing with the traditional powerhouses when conditions suit their strengths and when their bowlers execute disciplined plans. The win also highlights the importance of pace variety and the ability to swing the ball on green pitches – a skill set that Bangladesh has cultivated in recent years.
Looking ahead, the series will test both sides. Australia will aim to bounce back, leveraging the experience of their senior players while integrating the younger talent that Ponting advocates for. Bangladesh, on the other hand, will look to build on this momentum, using their disciplined bowling and growing batting depth to challenge the hosts on their home turf. The upcoming days promise an intriguing contest, with the potential for further surprises as each team adjusts tactics and seeks to assert dominance in what could become a memorable Test series.