Bangladesh completed a stunning nine-wicket victory over Australia in the first Test on Sunday, securing their first win on Australian soil and just their second Test victory over the world’s top-ranked side.
For Australia, the defeat ranks among the most humiliating home reverses in their 149-year Test history, piling pressure on the selectors to make changes ahead of the second Test in Mackay, which begins on August 22.
Australia had been outplayed from the moment captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat.
After making a vital half-century in Bangladesh’s first innings, Mehidy Hasan Miraz took five wickets in Australia’s second innings to restrict the hosts to a lead of just 56 runs. Australia were eventually bowled out for 284 midway through the afternoon session at Darwin’s Marrara Oval.
Bangladesh players pose for a team photo as they celebrate a historic win over Australia
Even Cameron Green’s third Test century, and his first in Australia, was not enough to save the hosts. His composed 104 from 201 balls led Australia’s resistance but only left Bangladesh with a modest target.
Bangladesh suffered some early nerves when Josh Hazlewood (1-5) dismissed first-innings centurion Tanzid Hasan for a duck. But Shadman Islam (25 not out) and Mominul Haque (30 not out) held their composure to chase down the target in just 14.2 overs, sparking wild celebrations among the Bangladesh fans seated behind the team’s dugout on the boundary.
Australia managed just 198 in their first innings, with Steve Smith top-scoring with 71, before Bangladesh capitalised as the pitch flattened to post 426 and take a commanding 228-run lead.
That advantage ultimately proved too much for the hosts to overcome, as Bangladesh secured a historic second Test victory over Australia, following their maiden win in Dhaka in 2017.
The two-Test series marks the beginning of a gruelling 12-month schedule, with 20 Tests to come, including tours of South Africa, India and England.
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