Bangladesh’s pace attack overshadowed Australia’s reunited “Big Four” on the opening day of the first Test, bowling out the hosts for 198 on Thursday. Hasan Mahmud led the charge with a career-best haul of 6-55.
Bangladesh’s response with the bat also suggested the pitch wasn’t solely to blame for Australia’s struggles, with the visitors finishing the day at 96-1, trimming the first-innings deficit to 102 runs.
“Excited to play in Australia,” Hasan said of Bangladesh’s first Test on Australian soil since 2003. “To get the opportunity to play in these conditions as well … I just tried to maintain the process and just follow what the captain was saying.”
Hasan backed up those words with a disciplined line and length, striking in his sixth and seventh overs to remove openers Jake Weatherald for 23 and Travis Head for 22. Australia, having won the toss, had raced to 45 without loss on a green-tinged surface before the collapse began.
From there, Hasan, Taskin Ahmed (2-55), and Ebadot Hossain (2-39) took control of the first two sessions, bowling accurately and making full use of the conditions on offer. Steve Smith was the mainstay of the Australian innings, fighting his way to 71.
Smith became the second-last Australian batter to fall, advancing down the track at Hasan but top-edging the delivery, with wicketkeeper Litton Das completing the catch. His innings featured seven boundaries and a six.
Australia’s Big Four Reunite, But Bangladesh Dominates
The day had started well for Australia, with captain Pat Cummins winning the toss. Playing only his second Test in 13 months, Cummins returned to the side alongside Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon, reuniting a frontline attack widely known in Australia as the “Big Four.”
Darwin-born Weatherald had strong backing from the home crowd but struggled to settle, eventually edging a Hasan delivery. Head followed soon after, chopping on to a ball bowled from around the wicket as Australia slipped to 52-2.
Hasan Mahmud sent Steve Smith packing for his fifth wicket and then quickly made it six ✨#MilestoneMoment | @NrmaInsurance | #AUSvBAN pic.twitter.com/gltfKZSlMl
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) August 13, 2026
Ebadot then removed Marnus Labuschagne for one, with Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto taking the catch. The pacer also came close to dismissing Smith early in his innings, but a chance at third slip went down.
Bangladesh continued making inroads through the morning session, reducing Australia to 74-4 before Cameron Green fell for 13 just before lunch.
After the break, Ebadot removed Alex Carey for 19, while Taskin bowled Beau Webster for 12. Hasan then accounted for Cummins, who made nine, and Starc, who scored one, before wrapping up Australia’s innings by dismissing Smith and Lyon.
Bangladesh Openers Give Solid Start in Reply
Australia’s first-choice bowling attack, despite being reunited, could manage only one Bangladesh wicket before stumps. Shadman Islam made 20 before a leading edge off Starc was caught by Lyon at cover point, leaving Bangladesh at 36-1. Mominal Haque, unbeaten on 35, and Tanzid Hasan, unbeaten on 32, then built an unbroken 60-run partnership to take the innings through to the close.
Smith acknowledged that Australia looked rusty after going eight months without playing a Test. “It can take some time to get into it on occasions,” he said, adding that batting in the first session “wasn’t easy, wasn’t a heap of pace on the ball, and it was tacky and seaming around a bit.”
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The conditions, he noted, had changed considerably from the previous day. “The bowlers looked at the wicket yesterday and they said it was rock hard, and then today when we rocked up with a bit of dew on the ground, it felt softer,” Smith said. “So hopefully the same tomorrow and the ball starts talking a bit in the morning.”
The two-Test “Top End” series marks the start of a demanding 12-month schedule for Australia, which includes 20 Tests and tours of South Africa, India and England.