The task ahead for Australia to get back into the match is mammoth after allrounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz (65) and the wagging tail took the total to 426 all out after lunch on the third day of the first Test.<\/p>\n
After gruelling day in the Darwin heat, Josh Hazlewood finished with the figures of 6-89, which included his 300th Test wicket.<\/p>\n
But, outside of Hazlewood, there was little to celebrate and plenty to digest. <\/p>\n
Right before lunch, Hasan smacked Cameron Green for a huge six over fine leg on the final ball before the break to add salt into a raw wound.<\/p>\n
And Channel 7 commentator Trent Copeland admitted the situation was \u201cgrim\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow bad is this for the Australians?\u201d Copeland was asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, we\u2019re just talking to (stats guru) Swamp before about how significant this deficit is … this is rarefied air … it\u2019s pretty grim,\u201d Copeland said on Seven.<\/p>\n
The Australian team\u2019s struggles have been evident throughout the match, with signs of physical and mental fatigue creeping into the side at the start of the season.<\/p>\n
Veteran stars Steve Smith and Travis Head both dropped catches as the Bangladesh tail wagged with glee.<\/p>\n
\u201cHistorically, in the last few years, (Australia) have bowled teams out in a couple of sessions,\u201d Simon Katich said on Seven. <\/p>\n
\u201cSo there\u2019s some heavy legs. It\u2019s the start of the season. So there\u2019s been a lot of rust in this Test so far. And just little things like Steve Smith dropping that catch, he doesn\u2019t drop catches like that normally.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo you just wonder whether there\u2019s a little bit of physical and mental fatigue creeping into this batting group.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Australians have looked a shadow of themselves from the very start of the match.<\/p>\n
![\"Steve](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/f10e612a2eff18fcd23cce7a081914ad87a9cf74.jpg\")
Steve Smith was filthy with himself after he dropped a catch. Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n
While there are some positives, with bowlers Pat Cummins, Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon getting through significant workloads after injury layoffs, the performance standpoint remains dire.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s probably different elements of the physical performance staff that would be pleased that they\u2019ve got this workload in them. But from a performance standpoint, that doesn\u2019t matter. They\u2019re so far behind in the game,\u201d Copeland said. <\/p>\n
\u201cSo I think Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon to date, getting through with that workload is a minimum standard. They needed to get it in the legs, so they\u2019ll benefit from that. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut man, it\u2019s really concerning that this is the way it goes. <\/p>\n
\u201cAnd cricket just has that funny way (to get at you) when things aren\u2019t going your way.<\/p>\n
![\"Josh](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ccd4f54c49a2a2e0f15d5dad97a576a7874fb1cf.jpg\")
Josh Hazlewood celebrates after taking the wicket of Taijul Islam, his 300th Test wicket as well his fifth wicket for the innings. Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cThose dropped catches and even the way the session finished, a six while you walk off as a batter, you do carry that through the lunch break and into the next session. <\/p>\n
\u201cSo Australia just have so many things going against them right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bangladesh\u2019s first innings lead was set up by a maiden ton for Tanzid Hasan (101) and an aggressive 84 by captain Najmul Hossain Shanto.<\/p>\n
Australia allrounder Beau Webster said the path to victory was not insurmountable.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have got some naturally aggressive batters all ready to move the scoreboard along. Hopefully the wicket stays true and nice and we can put some pressure back on their bowlers,\u201d Webster said.<\/p>\n
\u201cA day and half of really good batting at a half-decent clip gets us right back in this contest.<\/p>\n
\u201cBatting last in a Test match on a hopefully worn wicket could be tricky (for Bangladesh) if it is a small chase.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that is our obvious way to win the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Australians have never lost a Test match to Bangladesh in Australia, but did lose one Test to them in 2017.<\/p>\n
– With AAP<\/p>\n
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