Bangladesh stun Australia by nine wickets in Darwin for first Test win on Australian soil

Bangladesh's pace revolution bears fruit

Bangladesh sealed their first Test victory on Australian soil, winning by nine wickets on day four of the series opener at Marrara Oval in Darwin. The ninth-ranked tourists bowled Australia out for 198 in the first innings, with all 10 wickets falling to pace, then replied with 426 to take command. After dismissing Australia for 284 in the second innings, Bangladesh needed just 57 to win and reached the target for the loss of one wicket, Mominul Haque cutting Beau Webster to the boundary for the winning runs.

The victory was Bangladesh's second over Australia in Test cricket and only the seventh Test played between the two nations in 26 years. Bangladesh had been bowled out for 54 in a warm-up match against a Cricket Australia XI just over a week earlier, and were missing leading quicks Nahid Rana and Shoriful Islam to injury.

Hasan Mahmud and Miraz drive the upset

Fast bowler Hasan Mahmud was named Player of the Match after claiming 6-55 in the first innings and 3-56 in the second for a match haul of nine wickets. The 26-year-old said Bangladesh had prepared specific plans for each Australian batter through video analysis with coaches. All-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz took 5-66 in the second innings to wrap up the win, having earlier scored 65 with the bat in Bangladesh's first innings. Miraz dismissed Steve Smith, Alex Carey (30), Beau Webster (5), and Pat Cummins (8) across day four.

Bangladesh's first innings of 426 was built on opener Tanzid Hasan's maiden Test century (101), captain Najmul Hossain Shanto's 84, and Miraz's 65. Josh Hazlewood took 6-89 for Australia. Captain Shanto said the nation's belated focus on pace bowling was yielding rewards.

Earlier, five years ago, pacers didn't want to play tests. But we've been playing lots of test cricket and they are giving importance to test format. They want to play, want to perform, want to be world-class. That is the mindset they now have.

Australia's batting under scrutiny

Australia's batting lineup came under fierce criticism after the loss. Steve Smith's 71 in the first innings and Cameron Green's 104 in the second were the only scores of substance. Opener Jake Weatherald made 23 and 0, while number three Marnus Labuschagne scored 1 from 20 balls in the first innings and was bowled for 31 in the second with a clumsy heave at the left-arm spin of Taijul Islam.

Captain Pat Cummins conceded the batting group was not functioning and hinted at possible changes ahead of the second Test.

It's pretty clear it's not quite functioning as well as we'd like as a group, so I'm sure the batters will get together and talk. Review some footage, review methods, their approaches to how they were this week. If we need to make some changes to our style, we've got a week or so and we better do it pretty quickly.

Former captain Ricky Ponting told Channel 7 that Australia should consider regeneration in the batting order, saying it felt "a little shaky and uncertain." Former bowler Trent Copeland, speaking on SEN Radio, went further.

This is a completely unacceptable Test match result for Australia. When you are in your own conditions, I don't care about the preparation, I don't care who's playing for Australia even. You cannot lose to Bangladesh in Australia in a Test match.

Celebrations and what comes next

In Bangladesh, former captain Akram Khan called it the biggest achievement for Bangladesh cricket in Test matches. Former selector Abdur Razzak said the victory strengthened Bangladesh's case for more Test opportunities against Australia, noting the team's position in the World Test Championship. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman congratulated the players on a video call, telling them on social media, "We're all eagerly waiting to welcome you home."

The second and final Test begins in Mackay, Queensland, on August 22, with Bangladesh seeking their first series win over Australia.