The mighty Australians were brought down by a terrific spell from Hasan Mahmud as Bangladesh produced one of their finest days of Test cricket on Australian soil.
Hasan Mahmud’s 6 wickets vs Australia put Bangladesh in a position from where they can seriously dream of a historic Test victory. The right-arm pacer produced career-best figures of 6/55 as Australia were bundled out for only 198 in their first innings.
Bangladesh then made sure Hasan’s effort was not wasted. They finished Day 1 at 96/1, just 102 runs behind Australia with nine wickets still in hand.
For a team that had lost to Cricket Australia XI by an innings and 38 runs in the warm-up match only a few days earlier, this was a remarkable response.
Bangladesh Return to Australia After 23 Years
Bangladesh are playing Test cricket in Australia for the first time since their 2003 tour.
Their previous visit was extremely difficult. In the first Test at Darwin in 2003, Australia defeated Bangladesh by an innings and 132 runs. Australia also comfortably won the second Test at Cairns.
Twenty-three years later, Bangladesh have returned to Australia, and this time they have started the series with a completely different performance.
It is not common to see an Asian pace attack dominate Australia like this in Australian conditions. What made the performance even more impressive was the discipline shown by Bangladesh’s three fast bowlers.
Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain did not allow Australia to settle.
Hasan Mahmud’s 6 Wickets vs Australia Change the Game
Australia actually started well after Pat Cummins won the toss and decided to bat first on a green-tinged Darwin surface.
Jake Weatherald and Travis Head added 45 runs for the opening wicket. At that stage, Australia appeared to be in a comfortable position.
Then Hasan Mahmud opened the gate.
He removed Weatherald for 23 before dismissing Head for 22, leaving Australia at 52/2. Once Bangladesh got the breakthrough, their pacers did not allow Australia to recover properly.
Hasan later returned to remove Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Steve Smith and Nathan Lyon to complete a brilliant six-wicket haul.
He finished with 6/55 from 17 overs, the best figures of his Test career.
More importantly, Hasan became the first Bangladesh bowler to take a five-wicket haul in a Test in Australia. His 6/55 is also the best bowling performance by a Bangladesh bowler against Australia in Test cricket.
Jake Weatherald ✅
Travis Head ✅
Pat Cummins ✅
Mitchell Starc ✅
Steve Smith ✅Hasan Mahmud became 1st Bangladesh bowler to Pick Fifer in Australia 👏#Ausvsban
Image Credit: Jiostar pic.twitter.com/UyM6h8neRm
— CricInformer (@CricInformer) August 13, 2026
Taskin Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain Provide Perfect Support
Hasan was the star, but this was not a one-man bowling performance.
Taskin Ahmed maintained a very good line and length and finished with 2/55. He removed Cameron Green and Beau Webster.
Ebadot Hossain also struck whenever Australia appeared to be building a partnership. He dismissed Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey and finished with impressive figures of 2/39.
That meant all 10 Australian wickets were taken by Bangladesh’s pace trio.
Hasan took six, while Taskin and Ebadot picked up two wickets each.
That itself tells the story of Bangladesh’s bowling performance.
🔥 Bangladesh’s pace attack has made life miserable for the Australian batters in the first Test! 🇧🇩⚡#Ausvsban
Image credit: Jiostar pic.twitter.com/4vLnjKQr7E
— CricInformer (@CricInformer) August 13, 2026
Did Australia Take Bangladesh’s Pace Attack Too Lightly?
Pat Cummins’ decision to bat first was certainly an interesting one considering the conditions.
There was around 4mm of grass on the surface, and the pitch offered enough assistance for the fast bowlers. Australia probably believed they could negotiate the difficult first hour and then take control of the match.
Instead, the decision backfired.
Bangladesh’s pacers were almost perfect with their line and length. They kept asking questions and did not give the Australian batters many easy scoring opportunities once the opening partnership was broken.
Australia were eventually bowled out for 198 in only 53 overs.
It was their lowest Test total against Bangladesh, going below the 217 they made in Mirpur in 2017.
Steve Smith Saves Australia From Further Trouble
If there was one Australian batter who understood the situation, it was Steve Smith.
Smith once again showed his class under pressure and scored 71 from 109 deliveries, including seven fours and a six.
Without his innings, Australia could have been bowled out for a much smaller total.
Bangladesh had reduced Australia to 74/4 before Smith tried to rebuild the innings. He added 56 with Alex Carey, but Bangladesh continued to strike from the other end.
Eventually, Hasan Mahmud also got Smith, with Litton Das completing the catch.
Australia were all out for 198, and suddenly Bangladesh had a huge opportunity.
🇦🇺🔥 Steve Smith stood tall for Australia with a brilliant 71-run knock!
👏 Wickets kept falling at the other end, but Smith fought hard and played a crucial lone-hand innings.
🏏 71 (109) | 7 fours, 1 six#Ausvsban
Image Credit: Jiostar pic.twitter.com/iXQuJ6Ze0P
— CricInformer (@CricInformer) August 13, 2026
Mominul Haque and Tanzid Hasan Put Bangladesh in Control
Bowling Australia out cheaply was only half the job. Bangladesh still had to survive against one of the world’s best pace attacks.
Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins were waiting for them.
Bangladesh lost Shadman Islam for 20 with the score at 36, as Starc provided Australia with their only breakthrough of the innings.
However, there was no collapse.
Mominul Haque and Tanzid Hasan Tamim showed excellent patience and remained unbeaten until stumps.
Mominul finished Day 1 on 35 not out from 49 balls, while Tanzid remained unbeaten on 32 from 67 deliveries. The pair added an unbeaten 60 runs for the second wicket.
Bangladesh closed the day at 96/1 after 24 overs, trailing Australia by only 102 runs.
That batting performance made Hasan Mahmud’s spell even more valuable.
Steve Smith stands tall with a gritty 71 (109), but Hasan Mahmud’s 6/55 keeps Australia down to 198 🏏
Bangladesh respond solidly with 96/1 at Stumps. Which team takes control on Day 2?
📷: JioHotstar pic.twitter.com/gRqaPhD67b
— CricInformer (@CricInformer) August 13, 2026
First Hour of Day 2 Could Decide Bangladesh’s Position
Bangladesh now have a massive opportunity, but the first hour on Day 2 will be extremely important.
Australia will come hard with Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood. The conditions could again provide movement in the morning, and Bangladesh cannot afford to become overexcited because of their excellent position.
Mominul and Tanzid first need to negotiate the early threat.
If Bangladesh can survive the opening hour without losing too many wickets, the Australian bowlers will be forced into longer spells and batting could become easier.
From there, Bangladesh can start thinking about building a substantial first-innings lead.
They do not need to rush.
The opportunity is already there. They simply have to remain patient and control their nerves.
Hasan Mahmud’s 6 Wickets vs Australia Give Bangladesh Hope of Historic Win
It is still too early to say that Bangladesh are close to winning the Test. Australia remain one of the hardest teams to beat at home, and one good session can quickly change a Test match.
But Bangladesh could hardly have asked for a better opening day.
Hasan Mahmud’s 6 wickets vs Australia, supported brilliantly by Taskin Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain, have given Bangladesh a genuine opportunity to create history.
Now the responsibility shifts to the batters.
If Bangladesh can build a strong first-innings lead and keep Australia under pressure, a famous Test victory in Australia will no longer look impossible.
For Bangladesh cricket, winning a Test on Australian soil would be one of their greatest achievements.
Day 1 has opened that door. The challenge now is to make sure they do not let Australia close it.
