Pat Cummins’ captaincy record took an unwanted turn after Australia suffered a nine-wicket defeat to Bangladesh in the first Test at the Marrara Cricket Ground in Darwin on Sunday.
The match ended inside four days, with Australia conceding a 228-run first-innings lead before setting Bangladesh only 57 runs to win in the fourth innings. The visitors reached the target in 14.2 overs, losing just one wicket.
The defeat was Australia’s first-ever home Test loss against Bangladesh and also added Cummins to an unwanted list.
Cummins, who has been Australia’s Test captain since the 2021-22 Ashes, became only the second Australian captain after Greg Chappell to lose home Tests against two different Asian teams.
Chappell lost two home Tests against Pakistan — in Sydney in January 1977 and Melbourne in December 1981 — and another against India in Melbourne in February 1981.
Cummins has now lost one home Test against India, in Perth in November 2024, and one against Bangladesh in Darwin in August 2026.
Bangladesh needed only three Tests to record their first Test win in Australia. They are now the fastest Asian team and the second-fastest team overall to win a Test on Australian soil.
Fast bowler Hasan Mahmud played a key role in the victory, taking nine wickets across the match to claim the Player of the Match award. He picked up six wickets in Australia’s first innings and three in the second.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz also contributed with both bat and ball. He scored a half-century in the first innings before taking five wickets in the second.
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto scored 84 in the first innings, while opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim made 101 off 197 balls.
For Australia, Josh Hazlewood took six wickets in the first innings, while Cameron Green scored 104 in the second innings. However, the rest of the Australian side could not make enough of an impact as Bangladesh completed their first Test victory in Australia.
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