Bangladesh’s bowlers overshadowed Australia’s Big Four getting back together on day one of the first Test as the hosts were dismissed for 198 and Hasan Mahmud took a career-best 6-55.
Bangladesh’s top-order batters then combined to reach 96-1 at stumps and cut the first-innings deficit to 102.
Bangladesh lost their last Test match against Zimbabwe in June by an innings and 85 runs but in Darwin on Thursday made a dream start to their tour of Australia, where they are playing their first Test series since 2003.
Australia are beginning a schedule of at least 20 Tests over the coming 12 months, with tours of New Zealand, South Africa, India and England – where The Ashes begins at Trent Bridge from June 18. Steve Smith admitted their start against Bangladesh was “not our best”
“Still plenty of cricket to be played, obviously,” Smith added.
“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 starred for the visitors with consistent line and length, striking in his sixth and seventh overs to remove openers Jake Weatherald (23) and Travis Head (22) after Australia won the toss and raced to 45 without loss on a green-tinged pitch.
Bangladesh’s Hasan Mahmud made the difference with the ball on day one
From there, Mahmud and fellow pacemen Taskin Ahmed (2-55) and Ebadot Hossain (2-39) dominated the first two sessions, bowling with discipline to exploit the conditions and get on top of a batting line-up that was held together primarily by Smith’s defiant 71.
Smith was the next-to-last wicket to fall, advancing at Mahmud before top-edging a high catch to wicketkeeper Litton Das, bringing an innings featuring seven boundaries and a six to an end.
The day started positively for the hosts, with skipper Pat Cummins winning the toss. Playing just his second Test in 13 months, he reunited with fellow pacemen Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc and veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon in a frontline attack long known in Australia as the Big Four.
A partisan crowd was in full support of Darwin-born Weatherald but he never really settled and needlessly swiped at a ball from Mahmud. Head was out soon after, chopping on a delivery that was bowled from around the wicket as Australia slipped to 52-2.
Ebadot had Marnus Labuschagne (1) caught by Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, and could have dismissed Smith early too, but a chance at third slip was put down.
Bangladesh took a full toll on the opening morning, restricting the hosts to 74-4 when all rounder Cameron Green (13) was out immediately before the lunch interval.
Ebadot dismissed Alex Carey (19) after the break and Taskin bowled Beau Webster (12).
Hasan had Cummins (9) and Starc (1) out edging and wrapped up the innings in 53 overs with the wickets of Smith and Lyon.
Despite having their first-choice bowling attack back together, Australia were unable to take more than one Bangladesh wicket, with Mominul Haque (35) and Tanzid Hasan (32) going on to share an unbeaten 60-run stand.
‘Opportunity here that may have been missed’ – Ponting questions Australia selectors
Speaking to Australia’s Channel 7, former captain Ricky Ponting said: “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.”
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