Australia on brink of defeat as Bangladesh take control in first Test at Darwin

Australia were on the verge of an upset home defeat by Bangladesh in the first Test at Darwin on day three, August 15, 2026, with the hosts 161-4 in their second innings and trailing by 67 runs.

Australia, who made 198 in the first innings, resumed day three chasing to reduce a first-innings deficit of 228 after Bangladesh were dismissed for 426 just after lunch; Cameron Green was unbeaten on 43 at stumps alongside wicketkeeper Alex Carey (19 no).

Openers Jake Weatherald (0) and Travis Head (17) both chopped on to paceman Hasan Mahmud before tea, and Marnus Labuschagne (31) was trapped after misplaying a half-volley from spinner Taijul Islam following the break. Cameron Green, on 12, survived a slice of fortune when he inside-edged Taskin Ahmed for four via his leg stump; replays showed the ball struck the outside of the stump but the bails stayed on. Steve Smith (44) was dismissed when he pushed a delivery from Mehidy Hasan Miraz straight back to the bowler.

Bangladesh had built their first-innings total through an all-round contribution from Mehidy Hasan Miraz (65) and late runs from the tail to reach 426. Josh Hazlewood finished as the leading Australian bowler with figures of 6 for 89; his wicket of Mehidy was Hazlewood's 300th in Test cricket, making him the ninth Australian to reach that mark.

Australia's fielding lapses compounded their position: Taskin, batting at No. 10, hooked Pat Cummins for four before the next delivery produced a dropped chance at deep backward square leg and Head then spilled a skied pull off Mehidy, bringing the innings total to five dropped catches. Hasan Mahmud, after his first-innings return of 6 for 55, batted for 92 deliveries to add 14, while Taijul Islam contributed 17 with an aggressive cameo that included a flip over square leg and a slash to gully. Hazlewood's selection ahead of Scott Boland was rewarded as he emerged the pick of the Australian attack.

Bangladesh's first-innings position was also founded on a maiden Test century from Tanzid Hasan (101) and an aggressive 84 from captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, which helped set up their 228-run lead. The largest first-innings deficit Australia have previously recovered from to win a Test on home soil was 206 at the SCG in 2010, when Michael Hussey made an unbeaten 134 and Australia bowled Pakistan out for 176 to win by 36 runs.

At stumps Australia trailed by 67 with Green unbeaten on 43 and Carey 19 no; they face the task of overturning a first-innings deficit of 228 if they are to avoid a rare home defeat to Bangladesh.