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Question marks surrounded the tourists\u2019 batting after they were bowled out for 54 in an innings defeat to a Cricket Australia XI last week, but it was Australia\u2019s top order that misfired in a \u201cpretty ugly\u201d display.<\/p>\n
Steve Smith\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
‘Maybe I didn’t nick it, i don’t know’ | 06:18<\/p>\n
\u201cI was very excited to play in Australia because they are one of the best teams in the world,\u201d the 26-year-old, who recently played for English county Kent, told Fox Cricket\u2019s Adam Gilchrist after walking off the ground to a standing ovation.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
MATCH CENTRE: Live scores from the first Test in Darwin<\/a><\/p>\n TALKING PTS \u2014 \u2018Done it to ourselves\u2019: Australia\u2019s horror start to 12-month blitz… and who\u2019s most at fault<\/a><\/p>\n 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<\/p>\n Australia\u2019s bowling innings got off to an awful start as Nathan Lyon dropped a high catch in Josh Hazlewood\u2019s opening over – the 38-year-old first involvement in the field since injuring his hamstring during the Adelaide Test last December.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Starc\u2019s milestone offered little respite after Australia\u2019s batters left the team\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThis has been one of their finest days in Test cricket,\u201d former Australian leg spinner Kerry O\u2019Keeffe said on Kayo Sports.<\/p>\n 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<\/p>\n 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).<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The wicketkeeper\u2019s dismissal triggered another Australian collapse as Bangladesh took 6\/69 to wrap up the innings – all ten wickets were taken by their fast bowlers.<\/p>\n Taskin Ahmed produced an even better delivery than Edabot\u2019s to knock over Beau Webster (12) with a beauty that crashed into the top of off stump.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve played against and I\u2019ve seen a lot of cricket, and a lot of teams that have come out here,\u201d David Warner said on Kayo Sports.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I have to say, it\u2019s probably the first time I\u2019ve seen any opposition come and hit the mark with their bowlers straight away.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re relentless.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not easy to do in Australia, and they\u2019ve done that.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s a message to the Australian public that this Bangladesh team has come to play,\u201d Kerry O\u2019Keeffe replied.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of people were of the opinion this game wouldn\u2019t go too many days, but Bangladesh have clearly won day one thus far.\u201d<\/p>\n 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<\/p>\n Bangladesh made a habit of winning the key moments on the opening day as Carey, Green, Head and Weatherald all fell around breaks.<\/p>\n Green was dismissed on the final ball before lunch in a significant blow to give Bangladesh four scalps in the first session.<\/p>\n The West Australian had hearts in mouths on the first ball of Taskin Ahmed\u2019s over as he top edged a pull shot for six.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \ufeff\u2018Bat like a five!\u2019: Aussies\u2019 flawed Green plan exposed as \u2018nothing shot\u2019 piles on fresh pressure<\/a><\/p>\n 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<\/p>\n O’Keeffe: ‘Fair dinkum, bat like a 5!’ | 01:09<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Australian great Mark Waugh said on commentary that the surface was not to blame for the hosts\u2019 struggles and offered a warning that they may face a sizable first innings deficit.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s going to develop into a good batting pitch, especially days two and three,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cNot that it\u2019s been a bad pitch today at all.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s been a little bit of seam there, but Australians have looked a bit rusty with the stick.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOther than Steve Smith, the scorecard has been pretty ugly for Australia,\u201d Brendon Julian added.<\/p>\n Head\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The Darwin born and raised batter debuted his technical tweaks at Test level for the first time.<\/p>\n Weatherald was ridiculed during the Ashes for crouching too low, falling over and having issues with full deliveries targeting the stumps.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cBangladesh deserve that,\u201d Kerry O\u2019Keeffe said on commentary.<\/p>\n \u201cWeatherald got a bit carried away, saw an opportunity to score,\u201d Alyssa Healy added.<\/p>\n \ufeffHometown hero\u2019s incredible full circle moment… as Aussie greats back newcomer to kickstart Test career<\/a><\/p>\n 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<\/p>\n One brought two for Bangladesh as opening bowler Hasan Mahmud removed Head (22) in his first over after the drinks break.<\/p>\n The South Australian looked to be getting into his work the ball prior as he crunched a cover drive to the fence.<\/p>\n But O\u2019Keeffe and Healy praised a \u201csmart piece of bowling\u201d from Mahmud, who bowled a probing seven over opening spell, as he came around the wicket and found Head\u2019s inside edge and the ball crashed into the stumps \u2013 one delivery after being hit for four.<\/p>\n It was reward for a probing first hour by the Bangladesh quicks with Mark Waugh saying before Weatherald fell that the tourists had \u201chardly bowled a bad ball\u201d.<\/p>\n “Downfall for the last 25 Test matches” | 01:35<\/p>\n Bangladesh\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Smith was only on two at the time as the tricky chance going forward found grass.<\/p>\n The visitor\u2019s heads were thrown back in frustration when Smith edged for four through a vacant third slip.<\/p>\n \u201cI actually forgot how to hold the bat for the first 30 balls, I\u2019m not gonna lie,\u201d Smith told Fox Cricket with a laugh.<\/p>\n \u201cThen I figured it out and felt really good.\u201d<\/p>\n Steve Smith looked a touch guilty but was not out.Source: FOX SPORTS<\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n \u201cThat was bizarre because he was almost walking off, he sort of was,\u201d David Warner said on Kayo Sprots.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know about that,\u201d Waugh replied.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think the first slip was too interested, the keeper was half-hearted.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got to say I didn\u2019t hear anything.\u201d<\/p>\n 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<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cI just think it\u2019s the setup for Manus, I think he\u2019s just a little bit indecisive at the moment,\u201d Warner said said on Kayo Sports.<\/p>\n \u201cI really feel for Marnus because I know how much time and effort and value he puts on his wicket,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Waugh replied: \u201cHe was half-hearted, and didn\u2019t want to play at it.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the end, he just hung the bat there.\u201d<\/p>\n Smith watched from the non-striker\u2019s end as his teammates struggled.<\/p>\n \u201cWe haven\u2019t played a Test match for a while, so it can take some time to get into it,\u201d Smith told Fox Cricket at the end of the day\u2019s play.<\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t easy. There wasn\u2019t a heap of pace on the ball and it was tacky, and seaming around a bit. It wasn\u2019t easy.\u201d<\/p>\n But Smith remained optimistic that Australia can turn things around on Friday.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously didn\u2019t have many partners come with me today,\u201d Smith told Fox Cricket.<\/p>\n \u201cThat happens. It was a bit tacky early on and probably hardened up a bit as the day went on and got easier to bat.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll see. There a was a bit of dew this morning. The boys thought it was really hard yesterday.<\/p>\n \u201cThen the dew this morning made it softer. Perhaps when we come tomorrow morning it\u2019ll be a bit softer and challenging again.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/p>\n \ufeff\u2018He knew\u2019: The forgotten Gilly act that floored Aussie legend after iconic final stand<\/a><\/p>\n Talking Pts \u2014 Inconceivable reality facing Aussie cricket… and names who could save us<\/a><\/p>\n \ufeffBizarre 15-minute Sheffield Shield change locked in \u2026 and CA message to curators revealed\ufeff<\/a><\/p>\n Webster ready for Bangladesh test | 01:33<\/p>\n