Australia vs Bangladesh Cricket: Hasan Mahmud takes 6 wickets in first innings

Bangladesh’s pace attack stole the spotlight from Australia’s reunited “Big Four” on the opening day of the first Test, dismissing the hosts for 198 on Thursday. Hasan Mahmud led the charge with a career-best 6-55.

Bangladesh’s response also suggested the pitch was not solely responsible for Australia’s struggles. The visitors finished the day at 96-1, reducing the first-innings deficit to 102 runs.

“Excited to play in Australia,” Hasan said of Bangladesh's first test match in Australia 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.”


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Hasan followed that plan with a disciplined line and length, striking in his sixth and seventh overs to dismiss openers Jake Weatherald for 23 and Travis Head for 22. Australia, after winning the toss, had raced to 45 without loss on a green-tinged surface.

From there, Hasan, Taskin Ahmed (2-55) and Ebadot Hossain (2-39) controlled the first two sessions, bowling accurately and making the most of the conditions. Steve Smith was the mainstay of the Australian innings, fighting his way to 71.

Smith became the second-last Australian batter to fall. He advanced at Hasan but top-edged the delivery, with wicketkeeper Litton Das completing the catch. His innings featured seven boundaries and a six.

The day had begun well for Australia, with captain Pat Cummins winning the toss. Playing only his second Test in 13 months, Cummins returned alongside Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon, reuniting a frontline attack widely known in Australia as the “Big Four”.

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Darwin-born Weatherald received strong backing from the home crowd but struggled to settle. He eventually went after a Hasan delivery and edged it. Head followed soon after, chopping on to a ball bowled from around the wicket as Australia slipped to 52-2.

Ebadot then removed Marnus Labuschagne for one, with Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto taking the catch. The paceman also came close to dismissing Smith early, but a chance at third slip was dropped.

Bangladesh continued to make inroads during the morning session, reducing Australia to 74-4 before Cameron Green was dismissed 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 completing Australia’s innings by dismissing Smith and Lyon.

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 put together an unbroken 60-run partnership.

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. 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.”

The conditions, he said, 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 added. “So hopefully the same tomorrow and the ball starts talking a bit in the morning.”

The two-Test “Top End” series marks the beginning of a demanding 12-month schedule for Australia, which includes 20 Tests and tours of South Africa, India and England.