Bangladesh’s pace attack ripped through Australia’s top order on Thursday, leaving the hosts struggling at 74 for four at lunch on the opening day of the first Test in Darwin.
The Bangladesh bowlers produced an extraordinary opening session despite arriving in Australia with a depleted pace attack, immediately putting Australia’s batsmen under pressure on a grassy surface at Marrara Stadium.
Australia won the toss and elected to bat, but the decision quickly appeared to backfire as Bangladesh’s fast bowlers exploited the conditions.
Hasan Mahmud was the chief destroyer early in the innings, taking two wickets and removing both Australian openers.
Jake Weatherald, under pressure to establish himself in Australia’s Test side, made 23 before edging a delivery from Hasan to the slips.
Travis Head then fell after chopping another Hasan delivery onto his own stumps.
Marnus Labuschagne’s dismissal made Australia’s position even more uncomfortable.
The experienced batsman scored only one run before being caught off Ebadot Hossin.
Cameron Green became the fourth Australian wicket, falling for 13 after hitting Taskin Ahmed towards short midwicket.
At lunch, Steve Smith remained unbeaten on seven and represented one of Australia’s hopes of rebuilding the innings.
Even Smith, however, had already survived a major scare after being dropped on two in the slips off Ebadot’s bowling.
The early collapse has placed enormous pressure on Australia’s middle and lower order.
Bangladesh, meanwhile, will enter the second session with an opportunity to seize complete control of the opening Test.
The match is particularly significant because it marks Bangladesh’s first Test series in Australia since 2003.
The two-Test series is being played in Darwin and Mackay, with the opening match taking place in Darwin before the teams travel to Queensland for the second Test.
Bangladesh entered the series with fewer resources than the hosts, but their opening spell demonstrated that they can challenge Australia’s highly regarded batting line-up.
For Australia, the immediate objective is survival.
The hosts need their remaining batsmen to produce a substantial partnership if they are to prevent Bangladesh from gaining a decisive advantage on the first day.
For Bangladesh, however, the opening session could hardly have gone better.
Four wickets before lunch have put them in an unexpectedly commanding position and raised the possibility of a famous performance on Australian soil.
