Bangladesh dominate Australia on day one of first Test in Darwin despite Smith review reprieve
Bangladesh dominated Australia on day one of the first Test in Darwin, despite Steve Smith being given not out on review after a caught-behind appeal. Australia were dismissed for 198 with Smith 71; Bangladesh closed the day 96-1 with Mominul Haque 35* and Tanzid Hasan Tamim 32*.
Ebadot Hossain believed he had trapped Smith on seven when the Tigers appealed for a caught behind, but umpire Kumar Dharmasena turned the on-field decision down and Australia opted to review. The television review using Snicko showed a flat line as the ball passed the bat and the not out verdict was upheld. When asked if he thought he had edged the ball, Smith said: "I think so, yeah. I was lucky? Yeah, it seems that way. You got to take it sometimes. "Maybe I didn't nick it. I don't know. But I certainly felt something. If I'd been given out, I was going to walk off. But yeah, technology saved me today, I guess."
Fast bowler Hasan Mahmud produced a career-best 6-55 to help bowl Australia out for 198, the standout bowling effort of the day. Smith compiled 71 runs but had been dropped twice before he was later dismissed after skying a delivery from Mahmud. Australia won the toss and elected to bat, yet their top and middle order again failed to build a large total.
The hosts reached 152-5 before Taskin Ahmed removed Beau Webster, and Australia then lost their last five wickets for just 46 runs. Those late dismissals ensured Bangladesh finished the day with control of the new ball and momentum in the field. Ebadot’s early appeal for Smith and Mahmud’s spell framed a strong bowling display by the Tigers.
In reply, opener Shadman Islam nicked Mitchell Starc to gully off a leading edge to give Australia an early wicket, but Tanzid Hasan Tamim remained unbeaten on 32 and Mominul Haque stood at 35 not out as the Tigers closed with no further loss. The pair saw Bangladesh safely through to stumps after the morning exchange of wickets. Their partnership ensured Bangladesh reached the close in a position to apply pressure on day two.
Snicko has been a source of controversy previously, including during the last Ashes series in Australia when host wicketkeeper Alex Carey was given a reprieve after an operator error and England wicketkeeper Jamie Smith was involved in two contentious decisions. Those earlier problems centred on images and audio spikes not appearing to line up properly rather than the flat line shown in Darwin on day one.
This match is the first of a two-Test series, and Australia have never lost a home Test to Bangladesh, having lost only once in six previous Tests against the Tigers at Mirpur in 2017.
