Australia taught a Test batting lesson by a side who refuse to beat themselves

August 14, 2026 — 6:57pm

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Darwin: This really is different. After the summer of Bazball’s Ashes implosion allowed them to capitalise repeatedly on English mistakes, Australia are fighting for Test match life against a Bangladesh side who have had the temerity to play the game wisely, and well, over two days.

Having briefly threatened to crash through with the second new ball, the Australians finished up sentenced to a third consecutive day in the field at Marrara Stadium, against opponents Cricket Australia have not deemed worthy of a five-day match on these shores since 2003.

With a first innings lead of 153 and counting, Bangladesh are 6-351 and in a position where they can strive for a seismic victory over an Australian side who, in the words of one former player at the ground, will have to “dig really deep” to get out of this hole.

Bangladesh were led by a splendid century from Tanzid Hasan (101), a technically tight left-hander who, at the age of 25, is playing just his second Test. Younger than any member of the Australian XI, Tanzid showed up more than a few of his seniors with a combination of sound method and application, capped off when he punched the air while taking his hundredth run.

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© The Sydney Morning Herald