Australia was knocked over for their lowest ever total against Bangladesh as the tourists dominated day one of the first Test in Darwin.

After Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat, the hosts were bowled out for 198, and Bangladesh hammered home their advantage in the evening session to reach stumps at 1/96.

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Question marks surrounded the tourists’ batting after they were bowled out for 54 in an innings defeat to a Cricket Australia XI last week, but it was Australia’s top order that misfired in a “pretty ugly” display.

Steve Smith’s 71 offered the only resistance as Bangladesh seamer Hasan Mahmud ran riot with a career best six-wicket haul, registering figures of 6/55 from 17 overs.

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“I was very excited to play in Australia because they are one of the best teams in the world,” the 26-year-old, who recently played for English county Kent, told Fox Cricket’s Adam Gilchrist after walking off the ground to a standing ovation.

“Obviously getting the opportunity to play in these conditions as well. I just tried to bowl line and lengths. Maintain the process and follow what the captain was saying.”

MATCH CENTRE: Live scores from the first Test in Darwin

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Hasan Mahmud of Bangladesh celebrates after taking six wickets for the innings during day one of the First Test Match in the series between Australia and Bangladesh at Marrara Stadium on August 13, 2026 in Darwin, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Australia’s bowling innings got off to an awful start as Nathan Lyon dropped a high catch in Josh Hazlewood’s opening over – the 38-year-old first involvement in the field since injuring his hamstring during the Adelaide Test last December.

Lyon redeemed himself soon after by hanging on to a leading edge from Bangladesh opener Shadman Islam (20) to make Mitchell Starc the most prolific left arm bowler in Test history with his 434th scalp.

Starc’s milestone offered little respite after Australia’s batters left the team’s star-studded bowling attack with plenty of work to do to claw them back into the contest with No.3 Mominul Haque (35*) and debutant Tanzid Hasan (32*) unbeaten at stumps.

“This has been one of their finest days in Test cricket,” former Australian leg spinner Kerry O’Keeffe said on Kayo Sports.

Australia’s Nathan Lyon drops a catch from Bangladesh batsman Tanzid Hasan on the first day of the first cricket Test match between Australia and Bangladesh at Marrara Stadium in Darwin on August 13, 2026. (Photo by William WEST / AFP)Source: AFP

Under pressure trio Jake Weatherald (23), Marnus Labuschagne (1) and Cameron Green (13) all fell cheaply in the first session as Australia lost 4/29 after a 45-run opening stand between Weatherald and Travis Head (22).

Smith, who reached his half-century from 76 deliveries, and Alex Carey (19) undertook a rescue mission after lunch, combining for a 55-run stand.

But their resistance was broken on the first ball after drinks in the second session when Carey inside edged a nip backer from Edabot Hossain onto his stumps.

The wicketkeeper’s dismissal triggered another Australian collapse as Bangladesh took 6/69 to wrap up the innings – all ten wickets were taken by their fast bowlers.

Taskin Ahmed produced an even better delivery than Edabot’s to knock over Beau Webster (12) with a beauty that crashed into the top of off stump.

While Cummins (9) and Mitchell Starc (1) both fell caught behind to Hasan Mahmud before the seamer nabbed Smith and Lyon with short balls to wrap up the Australian innings during the third session.

“I’ve played against and I’ve seen a lot of cricket, and a lot of teams that have come out here,” David Warner said on Kayo Sports.

“And I have to say, it’s probably the first time I’ve seen any opposition come and hit the mark with their bowlers straight away.

“They’re relentless.

“It’s not easy to do in Australia, and they’ve done that.

“I think it’s a message to the Australian public that this Bangladesh team has come to play,” Kerry O’Keeffe replied.

“A lot of people were of the opinion this game wouldn’t go too many days, but Bangladesh have clearly won day one thus far.”

Australian batsman Steve Smith acknowledges the applause after scoring his fifty on the first day of the first cricket Test match between Australia and Bangladesh at Marrara Stadium in Darwin on August 13, 2026. (Photo by William WEST / AFP)Source: AFP

Bangladesh made a habit of winning the key moments on the opening day as Carey, Green, Head and Weatherald all fell around breaks.

Green was dismissed on the final ball before lunch in a significant blow to give Bangladesh four scalps in the first session.

The West Australian had hearts in mouths on the first ball of Taskin Ahmed’s over as he top edged a pull shot for six.

Green then gave Bangladesh the perfect ending to an impressive first session as he was caught at square leg on the final ball of the 22nd over to ensure the tourists had the ascendancy at lunch.

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Cameron Green walks off after he was dismissed during day one of the First Test Match in the series between Australia and Bangladesh at Marrara Stadium on August 13, 2026 in Darwin, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

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Head told Fox Cricket before the toss that it might be a good one to lose as a tacky surface might make the going tough for batters early on before the pitch settled down later in the day.

Australian great Mark Waugh said on commentary that the surface was not to blame for the hosts’ struggles and offered a warning that they may face a sizable first innings deficit.

“I think it’s going to develop into a good batting pitch, especially days two and three,” he said.

“Not that it’s been a bad pitch today at all.

“There’s been a little bit of seam there, but Australians have looked a bit rusty with the stick.”

“Other than Steve Smith, the scorecard has been pretty ugly for Australia,” Brendon Julian added.

Head’s prediction proved spot on as he and opening partner Weatherald were made to temper their attacking instincts and do the hard yards against the new Kookaburra.

They did the job well for almost an hour until hometown hero Weatherald fell to one slash outside off stump too many on the stroke of drinks.

The Darwin born and raised batter debuted his technical tweaks at Test level for the first time.

Weatherald was ridiculed during the Ashes for crouching too low, falling over and having issues with full deliveries targeting the stumps.

He stood noticeably taller and stayed more leg side of the ball during his 37-ball innings of 23, but it ultimately did not yield a bigger score.

“Bangladesh deserve that,” Kerry O’Keeffe said on commentary.

“Weatherald got a bit carried away, saw an opportunity to score,” Alyssa Healy added.

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Australian opening batsman Jake Weatherald (C) snicks a ball and is dismissed on the first day of the first cricket Test match between Australia and Bangladesh at Marrara Stadium in Darwin on August 13, 2026. (Photo by William WEST / AFP)Source: AFP

One brought two for Bangladesh as opening bowler Hasan Mahmud removed Head (22) in his first over after the drinks break.

The South Australian looked to be getting into his work the ball prior as he crunched a cover drive to the fence.

But O’Keeffe and Healy praised a “smart piece of bowling” from Mahmud, who bowled a probing seven over opening spell, as he came around the wicket and found Head’s inside edge and the ball crashed into the stumps – one delivery after being hit for four.

It was reward for a probing first hour by the Bangladesh quicks with Mark Waugh saying before Weatherald fell that the tourists had “hardly bowled a bad ball”.

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Bangladesh’s impressive start continued as they should have had Smith too shortly after, but the Australian champion was put down by Tanzid Hasan at third slip off the bowling of Ebadot Hossain.

Smith was only on two at the time as the tricky chance going forward found grass.

The visitor’s heads were thrown back in frustration when Smith edged for four through a vacant third slip.

“I actually forgot how to hold the bat for the first 30 balls, I’m not gonna lie,” Smith told Fox Cricket with a laugh.

“Then I figured it out and felt really good.”

Steve Smith looked a touch guilty but was not out.Source: FOX SPORTS

Bangladesh also thought they had Smith caught behind not long after, but he was given not out on field and no spike was shown on review despite Smith maybe looking a little guilty.

“That was bizarre because he was almost walking off, he sort of was,” David Warner said on Kayo Sprots.

“I don’t know about that,” Waugh replied.

“I don’t think the first slip was too interested, the keeper was half-hearted.

“I’ve got to say I didn’t hear anything.”

Ebadot Hossain of Bangladesh celebrates after taking the wicket of Marnus Labuschagne of Australia during day one of the First Test Match in the series between Australia and Bangladesh at Marrara Stadium on August 13, 2026 in Darwin, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Bangladesh were then rewarded for their efforts when Labuschagne tentatively edged to Hossain to his skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto at second slip for 1 after a 20-ball stay at the crease.

“I just think it’s the setup for Manus, I think he’s just a little bit indecisive at the moment,” Warner said said on Kayo Sports.

“I really feel for Marnus because I know how much time and effort and value he puts on his wicket,” he added.

Waugh replied: “He was half-hearted, and didn’t want to play at it.

“In the end, he just hung the bat there.”

Smith watched from the non-striker’s end as his teammates struggled.

“We haven’t played a Test match for a while, so it can take some time to get into it,” Smith told Fox Cricket at the end of the day’s play.

“It wasn’t easy. There wasn’t a heap of pace on the ball and it was tacky, and seaming around a bit. It wasn’t easy.”

But Smith remained optimistic that Australia can turn things around on Friday.

“Obviously didn’t have many partners come with me today,” Smith told Fox Cricket.

“That happens. It was a bit tacky early on and probably hardened up a bit as the day went on and got easier to bat.

“We’ll see. There a was a bit of dew this morning. The boys thought it was really hard yesterday.

“Then the dew this morning made it softer. Perhaps when we come tomorrow morning it’ll be a bit softer and challenging again.”

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MATCH DETAILS

Venue: TIO Stadium, Darwin

First ball: 10:30am (AEST)

Watch: Fox Cricket (Channel 501) and streaming on Kayo

Australia XI: Travis Head, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Beau Webster, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

Bangladesh XI: Tanzid Hasan, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Taskid Amhed, Ebadot Hossain.