Twenty-three years after their last Test tour to Australia, Bangladesh announced their return in emphatic fashion on Thursday at Darwin’s Marrara Stadium. Led by a relentless and disciplined bowling performance from right-arm pacer Hasan Mahmud, Bangladesh skittled the hosts out for just 198 before their top order drove home the advantage, finishing Day 1 at 96 for 1.

Mahmud Leads Pace Rout to Stun Australia

Opting to bat first, Pat Cummins' Australian side got off to a steady start with Travis Head (22) and debutant opener Jake Weatherald (23) adding 45 runs for the opening stand. However, the innings unraveled swiftly once Mahmud found his groove. Weatherald chased a delivery outside off stump to edge behind, before Mahmud nipped one back sharply from around the wicket to castle Head.

Australia’s top order crumbled under disciplined seam bowling and questionable shot selection. Marnus Labuschagne fell for just 1 after prodding at a ball outside off, while Cameron Green handed a simple catch to midwicket, reducing Australia to 74 for 4 at lunch. Mahmud finished with sensational career-best figures of 6 for 55 in 17 overs, supported by Ebadot Hossain (2-39) and Taskin Ahmed (2 wickets), marking only the second time in Test history that Bangladesh pacers claimed all ten wickets in an innings.

Smith Defies Collapse Amid RTS Controversy

Steve Smith was the lone Australian batter to offer sustained resistance, compiling a gritty 71 off 109 balls featuring seven boundaries and a six. However, his stay was not without drama. Having been dropped at slip on 2, Smith appeared to edge Ebadot behind on 7 and began walking off, only for on-field umpire Kumar Dharmasena to rule not out. A Bangladesh review followed, but Real Time Snicko (RTS) registered no spike, allowing Smith to remain at the crease.

Smith candidly acknowledged the reprieve after the day's play: "Normally it’s pretty good. Maybe I didn’t nick it. I don’t know, but I certainly felt something. If I’d been given out, I was going to walk off. But, yeah, technology saved me today, I guess."

Smith fought on into the third session before advancing down the track to unsettle Mahmud, only to top-edge a short delivery into the gloves of the wicketkeeper, bringing Australia's innings to a close at 198 in 53 overs.

Bangladesh Seize Control Before Stumps

In reply, Bangladesh showed supreme composure against Australia's premier bowling trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins. While Starc struck to dismiss Shadman Islam (20), Tanzid Hasan Tamim (32 not out) and veteran Mominul Haque (35 not out) constructed an unbroken 60-run partnership.

Bangladesh closed the opening day on 96 for 1 from 24 overs, trailing Australia by just 102 runs with nine wickets in hand, cementing one of their finest opening days in overseas Test history.