Long wait over for Bangladesh and Darwin as Australia start their long run

Big Picture: From 2003 to 2026

In so many ways, this series has been a long time coming. Bangladesh have not visited Australia for a Test series in 23 years, while waiting 18 years for any bilateral exchange between the two nations. For Darwin, the wait to host a Test match has stretched to 22 years. Even on a micro level, it has been seven months since Australia’s men played a Test and more than a year since their renowned ‘big four’ bowling attack featured together in the same lineup.

The fact that Bangladesh have waited so long for a series in Australia does not reflect particularly well on Cricket Australia, although more recent administrations have begun taking a broader view on their global responsibilities in world cricket. However, quite when Bangladesh can expect to return for another tour remains uncertain.

There will be various interested parties with fingers crossed for a contest that goes deep into the weekend—perhaps everyone other than the Australian players themselves. Australia will want to be ruthless as they begin an epic run of 20 or 21 Tests in the next 12 months, avoiding any dropped World Test Championship (WTC) points along the way. Bangladesh’s second-innings collapse for just 54 runs against a Cricket Australia XI in their warm-up match did not bode well, but when the coin goes up on Thursday morning, both sides start on equal footing.

Australia enter this era-defining stretch in a fascinating position. On one hand, they are highly successful and settled. On the other hand, several questions linger. A frequently referenced issue is the age profile of the squad—where Cameron Green is the only player under the age of 30—particularly within the fast-bowling group. Nevertheless, all veterans continue to warrant selection, making them hard to displace ahead of major upcoming series, though workload rotation remains inevitable.

Australia’s batting order also faces early uncertainty. Opening batter Jake Weatherald faces a huge two weeks as he attempts to secure his spot at the top of the order and stop the revolving door. Green needs to consistently deliver on his immense talent with the help of a stable spot in the order, while Marnus Labuschagne has yet to fully convince that he is back to his absolute best.

This Australian top order might have faced an even tougher examination had Bangladesh’s fiery quick Nahid Rana been available, but a side strain suffered in Zimbabwe was an agonizing blow. Bangladesh currently sit fourth in the WTC standings after two impressive victories against Pakistan earlier in the year. Having won four matches in a row, including a brace against Ireland before a recent hammering against Zimbabwe, Bangladesh will rely heavily on the experienced duo of captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and veteran Mushfiqur Rahim to lead with the bat. Securing a victory in Darwin would represent a massive upset.

Form Guide and Team Dynamics

Australia: W-L-W-W-W (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Bangladesh: L-W-W-W-W

In the Spotlight: Cameron Green and Najmul Hossain Shanto

Cameron Green is the youngest member of Australia’s Test XI, but he is no longer inexperienced in international cricket. Now 37 matches into his Test career, he holds middling averages. It feels as though he is entering a pivotal season, and perhaps even a pivotal couple of months, if he is to hold down a key role throughout Australia’s grueling upcoming run. Team management remains desperate to keep him in the side, but that faith must be repaid—most importantly with the bat, where he should ideally be a central figure for the team’s future.

A huge amount rests on the shoulders of Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto in a batting lineup that appears vulnerable on paper. Shanto arrives with a solid 2026 under his belt so far, averaging 46.83 across three matches. While his overall Test average stands at a modest 33.49, he possesses a remarkable conversion ability: of his 15 scores over fifty, nine have been converted into centuries. He showed glimpses of touch with a steady 37 in the first innings against the CA XI.

Team News: ‘Big Four’ Reunited as Bangladesh Monitor Niggles

Scott Boland will warm the bench as Australia bring back their famous bowling quartet for the first time in over a year. Captain Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon all return to join Mitchell Starc. While the bowling lineup is set, the batting order must demonstrate consistency and durability.

Australia XI: 1 Travis Head, 2 Jake Weatherald, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Cameron Green, 6 Alex Carey (wk), 7 Beau Webster, 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Josh Hazlewood.

For Bangladesh, Shanto hinted at a few “niggles” within the camp but confirmed wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das is fit to play. Deploying two frontline spinners appears to be the likely strategy, while fast bowler Hasan Mahmud’s strong form for Kent and his four-wicket haul in the warm-up match could earn him selection.

Bangladesh (Probable XI): 1 Tanzid Hasan, 2 Shadman Islam, 3 Mominul Haque, 4 Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), 5 Mushfiqur Rahim, 6 Litton Das (wk), 7 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 8 Taijul Islam, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Khaled Ahmed/Ebadot Hossain, 11 Hasan Mahmud.

Pitch, Conditions, and Key Milestones

Preparing the drop-in pitch at Darwin has been a nearly 12-month project for head curator Jake Pavlich, who hopes to provide a surface that offers consistent pace with runs for batters and enough assistance for hard-working bowlers. Australian skipper Pat Cummins observed that the surface “looks and feels hard.”

With only two pitches on the square, players are anticipating that scoring runs square of the wicket will present unique challenges. Beau Webster highlighted the need for sharp running between the wickets, noting that the ball races differently across a ten-wicket block. Weather conditions in northern Australia remain ideal, with mild morning moisture giving way to sunny skies and temperatures hovering around 30 degrees Celsius.

Key Statistical Milestones

• Josh Hazlewood: Needs five wickets to reach the 300-Test wicket milestone.
• Mitchell Starc: Needs seven wickets to enter the top ten wicket-takers of all time in Test history.
• Mushfiqur Rahim: Begins the series requiring 194 runs to become the first Bangladesh batter to reach 7,000 Test runs.

Captain Quotes

“It’s been a great few months. Now it’s all about playing. We don’t look too far ahead. We as a group are quite good at just being quite present, not thinking too far ahead and moving on from one game to the next. For us at the moment, it’s all Bangladesh this series.” — Pat Cummins on maintaining focus despite Australia’s grueling 20-Test schedule.

“They are obviously the No. 1 team in the world, so we will be facing a lot of challenges. Playing against them is a huge opportunity for our players so nobody really needs added motivation. Everyone is confident knowing that a five-wicket haul or a century can be crucial. If it contributes to the team’s cause, it can only mean good things for the team.” — Najmul Hossain Shanto on facing Australia.