Steve Smith praised Bangladesh’s bowlers after Australia suffered a difficult opening day in the first Test in Darwin on Thursday.
Bangladesh bowled Australia out for 198 after Pat Cummins chose to bat first. Hasan Mahmud led the attack with a career-best 6/55, while Smith fought almost alone with 71.
Bangladesh then reached 96/1 at stumps and finished the day only 102 runs behind.
Smith said the conditions were difficult in the morning, but also credited Bangladesh for making good use of them.
“I thought all the bowlers bowled nicely. It was challenging. It was seaming around, they bowled decent areas, and challenged our defence quite a bit,” Smith said.
Hasan caused most of the damage, while Taskin Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain also played important roles with the ball.
Smith felt batting at the top of the order in Australia had become extremely difficult because of the movement available to the bowlers.
“I have said for a while that batting at the top of the order in Australia at the moment is as tough as I have seen in my career by a mile,” he said.
Australia had started with Jake Weatherald and Travis Head before losing wickets regularly. Smith admitted there were no excuses for the batting collapse.
“We have prepared really well. We have had a load of training in Brisbane, match simulation stuff, and we have trained here. We have done plenty, so no excuses there, that is for sure,” he said.
Smith himself had some luck during his 71. He survived a dropped chance and also escaped a caught behind appeal after Bangladesh reviewed the original not out decision.
Smith admitted he thought he had edged the ball.
“I think so, yeah. It seems that way,” he said.
“Maybe I didn’t nick it, I don’t know, but I certainly felt something. If I had been given out, I was going to walk off, but technology saved me today, I guess.”
Smith also felt the pitch became easier for batting as the day progressed. He said it was tacky in the morning, possibly because of dew, before becoming harder later in the day.
Bangladesh took advantage after Australia were bowled out. Tanzid Hasan and Mominul Haque guided the visitors to stumps after Mitchell Starc removed Shadman Islam for 20. Mominul was unbeaten on 35 and Tanzid on 32.
Smith believes the morning conditions on Day 2 could give Australia a chance to fight back.
“Hopefully, we can take a few early ones and get ourselves back in this game,” he said.
