In a remarkable display of bowling prowess, Bangladesh's cricket team dominated the opening day of the first Test against Australia in Darwin, dismissing the hosts for a mere 198 runs on Thursday. Hasan Mahmud led the charge with a career-best performance, claiming six wickets for 55 runs, as the Bangladeshi pace attack consistently troubled the Australian batsmen. By the end of the day, Bangladesh had reached 96 for one, significantly narrowing the first-innings deficit to 102 runs.
Bangladesh's Bowling Brilliance
Hasan expressed his excitement about playing in Australia, marking Bangladesh's first Test match on Australian soil since 2003. “To get the opportunity to play in these conditions... I just tried to maintain the process and just follow what the captain was saying,” he remarked. Australia won the toss and initially appeared to settle in, reaching 45 without loss on a pitch that had a greenish hue. However, Hasan quickly turned the tide, taking the crucial wickets of openers Jake Weatherald and Travis Head in his sixth and seventh overs, dismissing them for 23 and 22 runs, respectively.
Taskin Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain also contributed significantly, taking two wickets each, with figures of 2-55 and 2-39. Their disciplined bowling kept the Australian batting lineup under constant pressure throughout the first two sessions. Steve Smith emerged as the mainstay for Australia, scoring 71 runs off 109 balls, but his efforts were ultimately in vain as he became one of Hasan's victims, caught by wicketkeeper Litton Das after top-edging a delivery.
Australia's Struggles and Bangladesh's Response
The day began with Australia fielding their first-choice bowling attack, including captain Pat Cummins and renowned bowlers Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Nathan Lyon, collectively known as the Big Four. Despite the home advantage, Weatherald struggled to find his rhythm and was dismissed after an ill-timed swipe at Hasan. Ebadot's dismissal of Marnus Labuschagne for just one run further compounded Australia's woes, leaving them at 74 for four by lunch.
After the break, Ebadot removed Alex Carey for 19, while Taskin bowled out Beau Webster for 12. Hasan continued his impressive form, taking the wickets of Cummins and Starc before wrapping up his six-wicket haul with the dismissals of Smith and Lyon. In contrast, Australia’s bowlers managed to claim only one Bangladeshi wicket before stumps, with Shadman Islam scoring 20 runs before being caught by Lyon off Starc's bowling. At the close of play, Mohammad Haque and Tanzid Hasan remained unbeaten on 35 and 32 runs, respectively, having built a solid partnership of 60 runs.
Reflecting on the day, Smith acknowledged that Australia's lack of recent Test experience, with no matches played in the past eight months, contributed to their slow start. He noted the challenges of batting in the first session, describing the conditions as “tacky and seaming around a bit.” Smith also mentioned the unexpected changes in the pitch's behavior, hoping for better conditions on the following day. The two-Test series in Australia’s Top End marks the beginning of a demanding 12-month schedule for the team, which includes 20 Tests and tours to South Africa, India, and England.
