Bangladesh’s long-awaited return to Australia for a Test series after 23 years began with a mixed batting display, as Najmul Hossain Shanto’s side were bowled out for 263 in their only warm-up match against a Cricket Australia XI in Darwin. While the innings exposed familiar vulnerabilities in the top and middle order, an unbeaten century from all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz provided a timely boost ahead of the two-match Test series.
Winning the toss on Thursday, Bangladesh elected to bat first in conditions expected to resemble those they will encounter during the upcoming Tests. From the outset, however, the Cricket Australia XI bowlers maintained disciplined lines and lengths, making scoring difficult and forcing Bangladesh’s batters into mistakes.
The tourists suffered an early setback with only seven runs on the board. Opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim endured a difficult stay at the crease, facing eight deliveries before departing without scoring. Hanno Jacobs claimed the breakthrough as Sam Konstas completed the catch.
The second opening batter, Shadman Islam, looked more assured and attempted to stabilise the innings with a measured approach. He struck 31 from 47 deliveries but was unable to convert his start into a substantial contribution after falling to off-spinner Corey Rocchiccioli.
Bangladesh’s problems deepened when experienced batter Mominul Haque managed only 16 before also becoming one of Rocchiccioli’s victims. The dismissal of veteran wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim proved an even greater blow. Mushfiqur lasted just four deliveries before being dismissed for a duck, leaving Bangladesh reeling. By the lunch interval, the visitors had slumped to 78 for 4, handing the initiative firmly to the home side.
Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto then attempted to rebuild the innings alongside Amit Hasan. The pair restored a degree of stability and absorbed some pressure, but they could not establish the substantial partnership Bangladesh desperately needed.
Amit Hasan contributed 15 before departing, while Shanto, who looked settled for much of his stay, fell for 37 after appearing capable of producing a more significant innings. Soumya Sarkar added only 16, and with wickets continuing to fall at regular intervals, Bangladesh’s hopes of posting a commanding first-innings total rested almost entirely on Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
The experienced all-rounder responded with an innings of remarkable composure and maturity. Initially content to occupy the crease and weather the disciplined bowling, Miraz gradually expanded his strokeplay as he grew in confidence. Mixing patience with calculated aggression, he punished loose deliveries whenever opportunities arose.
His unbeaten 109 came from 141 balls and featured 11 boundaries and four sixes. It was an innings that demonstrated both technical discipline and attacking intent, qualities that Bangladesh will hope to see again during the Test series. More importantly, it arrived when his team required someone to anchor the innings amid a procession of dismissals at the opposite end.
Despite Miraz’s resistance, Bangladesh continued to lose partners regularly. The lower order offered only limited support, and the innings concluded after 75.5 overs with the tourists all out for 263.
The standout performer with the ball for the Cricket Australia XI was off-spinner Corey Rocchiccioli. The 28-year-old dismantled Bangladesh’s batting line-up by claiming six wickets, consistently exploiting the conditions and extracting enough assistance to trouble both right- and left-handed batters.
The remaining four wickets were shared among four other bowlers in the home side’s attack. Although none of them has yet made an international appearance, they collectively displayed impressive discipline, maintaining pressure throughout the innings and preventing Bangladesh from building sustained partnerships.
While the result of a warm-up fixture carries little significance, the individual performances offer valuable insights ahead of the Test series. Bangladesh’s batting line-up was expected to use the match to acclimatise to Australian conditions, where extra pace and bounce traditionally present a stern examination for visiting teams, particularly those from the subcontinent.
In that context, Miraz’s century stands out as one of the most encouraging aspects of the day. His ability to adapt to the conditions and produce a match-saving innings should strengthen Bangladesh’s confidence before the opening Test.
At the same time, the repeated failures among the top-order batters will concern the team management. Building competitive totals in Australia requires strong starts and meaningful partnerships, areas in which Bangladesh struggled throughout the innings.
The Darwin warm-up has therefore delivered both optimism and warning. Miraz’s outstanding century has demonstrated that runs are possible with patience and sound judgement, but Bangladesh will need a far more consistent batting effort across the line-up if they are to compete successfully when the Test series begi
