Australia endure horror opening day against Bangladesh in first Test since Ashes triumph

Bangladesh’s bowlers completely upstaged the return of Australia’s primary bowling quartet on the opening day of the Top End cricket series, as Hasan Mahmud recorded a career-best haul of 6-55 to help dismiss the hosts for just 198. Demonstrating that Thursday's flurry of wickets was not merely down to playing conditions, Bangladesh’s top-order batters combined to reach 96-1 by stumps, cutting their first-innings deficit to 102 runs. Hasan made his mark during his sixth and seventh overs by removing openers Jake Weatherald (23) and Travis Head (22), after Australia won the toss in their first Test since their 4-1 Ashes triumph over England, and reached 45 without loss on a green-tinged wicket in the tropical far northern city of Darwin. From that moment, Hasan and fellow fast bowlers Taskin Ahmed (2-55) and Ebadot Hossain (2-39) dominated the opening two sessions, bowling with discipline to exploit the surface and control a batting line-up held together primarily by Steve Smith’s gritty 71. Steve Smith made a gritty 71 (Getty) Smith was the ninth batter to fall, advancing at Hasan and top-edging a high catch to wicketkeeper Litton Das to end a 109-ball stay featuring seven boundaries and a six. The day had initially opened on a positive note for the hosts as skipper Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat. Making only his second test appearance in 13 months, Cummins reunited in the pace attack with Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc alongside veteran offspinner Nathan Lyon. A partisan crowd supported Darwin-born Weatherald, but he never looked settled before needlessly swiping at a wide delivery from Hasan, placing further pressure on his spot in the line-up. Head was dismissed in Hasan’s very next over, chopping a delivery bowled from around the wicket back onto his stumps as Australia slipped to 52-2. Ebadot had Marnus Labuschagne (1) caught by Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and could have removed Smith early as well, but for a dropped chance at third slip. Bangladesh took full advantage on the opening morning of their first test match in Australia since 2003, restricting the hosts to 74-4 when allrounder Cameron Green (13) fell immediately before the lunch interval. Bangladesh picked up wickets regularly throughout the day (Getty) Ebadot dismissed Alex Carey (19) after the break and Taskin bowled Beau Webster (12) before Cummins (9) and Starc (1) both edged Hasan behind prior to the tea interval. Removing Smith provided Hasan with his third five-wicket haul in test cricket, and the Bangladeshi bowler subsequently picked up last-man Lyon (7) to end Australia's innings after 53 overs. Despite having their reassembled first-choice bowling attack available, the Australians managed only a single breakthrough during the evening session against Bangladesh. Shadman Islam struck a rapid 20 before offering a leading edge off left-arm paceman Starc to Lyon at cover point with the total on 36. Mominul Haque was unbeaten on 35 alongside Tanzid Hasan on 32 in a solid, unbroken partnership of 60 runs. The two-test "Top End" series opens a heavy 12-month schedule for the Australians that will feature 20 test matches, including tours to South Africa, India and England.