Australia will play a Test cricket series against Bangladesh in the footy season. This is not good

August 7, 2026 — 11:41am

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Australians like to style ourselves as the white knights of Test cricket, preserving the purity of the five-day game against the sugary onslaught of hit-and-giggle fairy floss.

Our actions, however, have spoken louder than our words. This week’s Test series against Bangladesh in Darwin continues a historical pattern of Australia’s administrators saying something absolute and noble about our commitment to global Test cricket while doing something studded with caveats and qualifications.

Bangladesh, a cricket-mad country of 178 million, formerly part of India and then Pakistan before independence in 1971, is a good place to start the argument. From Thursday, Australia will pat itself on the back for playing the part of generous host, deigning to slide two Test matches against Bangladesh into the shadow of the football season.

It’s the first time Australia have hosted Bangladesh in 23 years. Since Bangladesh’s admittance to Test cricket in 2000, Australia’s role in their inclusion has been pathetic, shameful and grossly hypocritical. Bangladesh have played 158 Tests; six against Australia, and two in Australia.

Only Ireland and Afghanistan, recent Test nations, have played Bangladesh less than Australia have. India and England have played Bangladesh a combined 25 times. The load of incorporating this huge country into the Test cricket world has fallen on New Zealand,........

© The Sydney Morning Herald