Australia’s veteran stars have been stunned to begin a gruelling 12 months of Test cricket as Bangladesh took it right up to the hosts in Darwin.
The tourists cruised to 1-96 at stumps on day one after the Aussies managed just 198 all out having chosen to bat first.
Steve Smith (71) survived nervous moments to save Australia from embarrassment yet again after the rest of the batting order failed to fire, and the vaunted bowling attack didn’t turn things around in the last session.
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Shadman Ismal fell for 20 to Mitchell Starc in the ninth over but Tanzid Hasan (32 not out) and No.3 Monimul Haque (35 not out) steadied beautifully to see off the new ball.
Australia bowled just four maidens in their 24 overs.
“The thing is at the moment is that they’re absolutely bleeding runs,” Matthew Hayden said on Channel 7.
“Any time you’re getting in and around that four runs an over, it means that you’re not only surviving, you’re thriving. And that’s really defined (Bangladesh’s) day today.
“It’s just been a day of execution. It’s been a wonderful day for Bangladesh. They would have come here with so many question marks against the world’s best and the favourites for sure in this little competition.”
Bangladesh entered the first Test on the back of an innings defeat to a Cricket Australia XI side but showed serious intent on the big stage.
Ricky Ponting said he was “really surprised” by the lack of impact and pressure from Australia’s bowlers.
“It hasn’t been there,” he said.
“We talked when Australia were batting about the immaculate line that the Bangladeshi bowlers maintained, hardly any runs given leg side to Smith, he got most of his runs through the off side, which is very unusual for him.
“The discipline was there, the execution was there (and it) hasn’t quite been there for Australia yet. Long, long way to go in this game. But at big moments like these you need to capitalise on. You need to own these times in a game.”
Making matters worse, Nathan Lyon strangely let a gettable chance drop through his grasp in the second over.
Earlier, Bangladesh pace bowler Hasan Mahmud starred with 6-55, including the wicket of Smith, who skied a swat chasing runs with the tail.
It was the 26-year-old’s best Test figures in an innings.
Smith has still not scored a Test century against Bangladesh, the only one of the nine Test-playing nations he has played against where he has not achieved the milestone.
The rest of the Australian batters struggled as Bangladesh pace trio Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain and Mahmud bowled superbly on a surface that assisted the seam bowlers.
Ebadot (2-39) should have claimed Smith on two when he was dropped by Tanzid Hasan at third slip.
Bangladesh then lost a second review when Smith was given not out on seven after Ebadot was convinced he’d nicked one.
There was a sense Australia’s No.4 had made a move towards the pavilion, but Snicko showed nothing on his outside edge.
Ebadot cleaned up Alex Carey (19) after lunch and Taskin castled Beau Webster (12) with an absolute beauty. Pat Cummins (nine) and Mitchell Starc (one) both nicked off to Mahmud before tea.
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Jake Weatherald and Marnus Labuschagne continued their Test struggles in the first session.
Weatherald had an opportunity to enhance his chances of staying in the top order in front of a partisan crowd in Darwin, the city of his birth, but was unable to make the most of a start at Marrara Stadium.
It was no surprise when the 31-year-old edged impressive paceman Mahmud on the cusp of drinks to bring an end to a scratchy 23 off 37 deliveries.
Opening partner Travis Head (22) followed soon after, chopping on to Mahmud when he went around the wicket.
Ebadot had Labuschagne (1) edging to captain Najmul Hossain Shanto with an indecisive poke as his drought without scoring a Test century extended to 37 innings.
A horror shot by allrounder Cameron Green (13) on the stroke of lunch went straight to mid-wicket, another misadventure by a player who is yet to turn his promise into consistent runs.
The Test is the first played at the venue since 2004 and just the third in Darwin history after Bangladesh were the first visiting side in 2003.
— with AAP
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