.jpeg "Australia after suffering a defeat to Bangladesh")
Bangladesh defeated Australia by nine wickets in the first Test at Darwin, completing their victory on August 16, after chasing down a target of just 57 runs on the fourth afternoon. The win is the Tigers' first in a Test match on Australian soil and came in their third attempt in the country, 23 years after their previous Test visit.
The Aussies were bowled out for 198 in their first innings. Bangladesh responded with 426 in their first innings, taking a commanding lead. Australia made 284 in their second innings, with Cameron Green scoring his third Test century, but the total set Bangladesh a target of only 57, which they chased down with nine wickets in hand.
Hasan Mahmud took nine wickets across the match, Tanzid Hasan scored a maiden Test century, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz contributed a five-wicket haul in the second innings. Najmul Hossain Shanto captained the Tigers throughout, and also contributed with a well-made 84 in the first innings. The result was made more striking by the fact that Bangladesh had been bowled out for 54 in a warm-up fixture against the CA XI the week before the Test.
What did former Australia players say about the result?
Former captains Mark Waugh and Ricky Ponting deemed the result an 'embarrassing' outing, with Waugh even stating it to be bigger in magnitude than when the West Indies beat Australia in Brisbane in 2024
"This could possibly be the biggest upset I can remember in Australia. The West Indies beat Australia at the Gabba three or four years ago – that was an upset.“But this one, given their best two bowlers, Nahid Rana and Shoriful Islam, are not playing, the rankings, the Australian team back at full strength, it’s a big one, this one," Waugh said on FOX Cricket's official coverage.
Did Ponting call for changes to the Australia squad?
Ponting went beyond assessing the result and addressed the question of selection. He acknowledged his general reluctance to push for personnel changes. However, he indicated that the evidence ahead of this series had already pointed toward the need for renewal. Players such as Jake Weatherald and Marnus Labuschagne have had their places questioned in the aftermath of this Test.
"Look, I’m the last one who wants to make change. As a captain or as a player, I wanted to keep the group together. It has to get to a bad point before I start saying you ought to leave somebody out. But there had been enough evidence for me coming here to suggest that they weren’t going to lose anything or much at all by starting that regeneration, by maybe bringing in another opener, by maybe bringing in someone at No. 3. And I think if they lose here, then I think that has to happen," Ponting added.