His first Test in Australia, and history on the very first day. Hasan Mahmud could hardly have dreamed of a better start. At Marrara Cricket Ground in Darwin, the pacer tore through Australia’s batting lineup to become the first Bangladeshi bowler to take a five-wicket haul in a Test on Australian soil. He eventually finished with six wickets for 55 runs.
Hasan’s career-best spell restricted Australia to 198 in their first innings. He bowled 17 overs, including three maidens, and claimed 6-55. His figures were not only his best in Test cricket but also the best by any Bangladeshi bowler against Australia in Tests.
Hasan arrived in Australia in good form after impressive spells in county cricket, the Vitality Blast and the Lanka Premier League. He carried that rhythm into Darwin. By repeatedly hitting the same areas, he made Australia’s batters uncomfortable and forced them into mistakes. The 26-year-old eventually claimed his third five-wicket haul in 15 Tests.
But what was the recipe behind his bowling?
Standing outside the boundary rope after the innings, Hasan said, “I was really looking forward to playing in Australia. They are one of the best teams in the world, so getting the opportunity to play in these conditions is a great experience. I just tried to bowl in the right areas and focused on keeping my process right. I also tried to follow the captain’s instructions.”
Hasan was backed up superbly by Bangladesh’s pace attack. Taskin Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain claimed two wickets each. It meant Bangladesh’s pace bowlers took all 10 wickets in an opposition innings for only the second time in Test cricket. The first came in Rawalpindi against Pakistan in 2024.
Hasan, however, was quick to credit his fellow pacers rather than claim all the glory for himself. Praising Taskin and Ebadot, he said, “They bowled really well too. They gave it their best.”
His recent experience in English county cricket has also played an important role in his development. Hasan believes his stint with Kent helped him adapt to different conditions. After making history in Australia, he now hopes to build on that experience.
“Playing county cricket and in England was a really good experience for me. Hopefully, I can continue playing regularly for Kent,” Hasan said.
