In a day’s play that barely anyone would have foretold, Bangladesh ended day 1 of the AUS vs BAN 1st Test on top in Darwin.
The day saw a sensational performance from Bangladesh’s pace trio of Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, and Ebadot Hossain, while Steve Smith battled hard and alone for Australia, taking them to a respectable total.
Little could have been predicted about the surface either, as Test cricket returned to Darwin after 22 years. Pat Cummins’ decision to bowl first after winning the toss on a pitch with lively green grass and skies with clouds in them has now come under the scanner as Australia were bundled for 198 runs in 53 overs.
However, Bangladesh ended the day at 96/1, proving that the difficulty of batting on this pitch was far from being as severe as it seemed during Australia’s innings. Some of the hosts’ batters would be unhappy with their shot selections as well against a steady dose of consistent and immaculate bowling from Bangladesh’s seamers.
Steve Smith’s wicket was the special one: Hasan Mahmud
Mahmud finished with figures of 17-3-55-6. He nipped out three of Australia’s top four – Travis Head, Jake Weatherald, and Smith – before cleaning up the tail, not allowing Cummins, Starc, and Lyon to add precious runs that they have so often done.
For Mahmud, Smith’s wicket was the most special one. He reckoned even Australia’s best batsman was finding it challenging to tackle his bowling on a surface that offered him some seam movement.
“I think Smith’s wicket was the special one; he was having a hard time predicting what I was going to do. I trusted my instinct as I bowled that bouncer to him (which Smith top-edged while playing a pull shot),” Mahmud said, as quoted by Cricinfo.
Mahmud, who had taken five-wicket hauls in Chennai against India and Rawalpindi against Pakistan, added a five-for in Australia in what is only his 15th Test match.
“All three are big achievements for me. These are big teams against whom I took five-wicket hauls, so I want to continue bowling like that,” he added with a smile.
Mahmud had come on this tour having gained experience of bowling in England in County cricket for Kent and in Sri Lanka in the LPL.
“I gained a lot of confidence bowling in county cricket. I had to learn which length to bowl in these conditions, which I somehow found similar. I think it also helped me to bowl a lot at training with the old and new ball,” the 26-year-old seamer asserted.
A couple of years ago, Mahmud played a crucial role in helping Bangladesh register a historic 2-0 Test series win in Pakistan. Today, he made a huge contribution in what is one of Bangladesh’s best days in their Test history as they gained the upper hand in Darwin.
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