Australia Bowled Out For 198 As Bangladesh Dominates Opening Day

Bangladesh Pace Trio Capitalizes on Green-Tinged Darwin Pitch

Australia won the toss and elected to bat first at Marrara Stadium on August 13, 2026, but the decision immediately backfired against a disciplined Bangladesh bowling attack. Playing their first Test series in Australia since 2003, the tourists seized control during the opening two sessions as pacemen Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, and Ebadot Hossain exploited favorable seam movement on a green-tinged surface.

Darwin-born Jake Weatherald began the first Test under immense pressure after struggling through his debut series against England. Despite a partisan home crowd willing him forward, the 31-year-old Northern Territorian failed to settle and edged Hasan for a scratchy 23 off 37 deliveries. Opening partner Travis Head followed soon after for 22, chopping on against a delivery delivered from around the wicket as the hosts slipped to 52-2.

Steve Smith Survives Reprieves En Route to a Defiant 71

While his teammates fell around him, Steve Smith anchored the innings with an idiosyncratic 71 off 109 balls, though his stay at the crease was accompanied by extraordinary fortune. Walking to the crease at 2-52, the batter survived reprieves that left the visiting team staring in disbelief.

Smith escaped when a thick edge on two died in front of Tanzid Hasan Tamim, who dived forward at third slip but could not hold on. Moments later, another edge flew safely through a gap in the cordon.

The most controversial moment arrived in the 21st over when Ebadot induced an edge from Smith on seven. Umpire Kumar Dharmasena remained unmoved, and Bangladesh reviewed the decision. Smith seemingly started to walk off toward the pavilion, signaling that he believed he had nicked the ball, before turning around as the review began. Real Time Snicko showed no spike, and the original decision stood.

“I think so, yeah. I was lucky? Yeah, it seems that way. You got to take it sometimes. Maybe I didn’t nick it. I don’t know. But I certainly felt something. If I’d been given out, I was going to walk off. But yeah, technology saved me today, I guess.”

Steve Smith, Australia batter

Smith’s luck eventually ran out when he advanced down the pitch to Hasan and top-edged a high catch to wicketkeeper Litton Das, ending an innings that featured seven fours and a single six. Hasan wrapped up the tail to finish with career-best figures of 6-55 as Australia lost their final five wickets for just 46 runs.

Ponting Questions Selector Strategy as Australia Stumbles

“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.”

Ricky Ponting, former Australia captain

Tigers Take Firm Control Before Stumps in Darwin

In response to Australia’s meager total, Bangladesh exhibited remarkable discipline with the bat. Although Mitchell Starc struck early by removing opener Shadman Islam via a leading edge to gully, fellow left-hander Tanzid Hasan and Mominul Haque dug in.

Tanzid remained unbeaten on 32 alongside Mominul on 35 not out. The pair compiled an unbroken 60-run partnership, steering the tourists safely through to the close of play at 96-1, trailing Australia by 102 runs heading into the second morning.