Twenty-three years after Bangladesh last toured Australia for a Test series, they returned to Darwin and produced one of the biggest results in their history, beating the hosts by nine wickets in the opening Test.
At the heart of the victory was Hasan Mahmud, who delivered a career-best performance in the first innings. The right-arm seamer claimed 6-55 to bowl Australia out for 198, repeatedly hitting the right length and making the most of the movement on offer. He finished the match with nine wickets and was named Player of the Match.
Hasan’s performance also caught the attention of three former Australia fast bowlers, Glenn McGrath, Damien Fleming and Jason Gillespie, who discussed Bangladesh’s historic win on their podcast, The Fast Bowling Cartel.
Fleming was particularly impressed by Hasan’s discipline and consistency. He compared the Bangladesh bowler’s approach to that of McGrath, praising his ability to keep bringing the batters forward while maintaining movement from a testing length.
“Hasan Mahmud was absolutely nailing the perfect length,” Fleming said. He added that Hasan’s bowling was “very McGrath-like”, particularly in the way he kept attacking the batters from the same length.
Hasan’s six-wicket haul set the tone for Bangladesh’s performance in Darwin. Although Australia fought back in the second innings, Bangladesh’s bowlers kept the pressure on, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz taking 5-66. Hasan added three more wickets to finish with nine in the match.
McGrath also praised Bangladesh’s progress, describing their success in Australia as a positive development for world cricket. He pointed out that Bangladesh had not played a Test in Australia for 23 years before this tour.
“If Bangladesh can put in the same performance in Mackay, they could get something really special out of this,” McGrath said.
Bangladesh now head to Mackay for the second Test with a 1-0 lead and the opportunity to claim their first Test series victory in Australia.
