Phil Simmons’ voice rang out across the Marrara Oval practice nets just three days before Bangladesh’s first Test in Australia since 2003. The coach, frustrated by a poorly executed shot from Hasan Mahmud, reminded the tailender of his earlier directive: “I want all of you to give me 40-50 balls each in the match.” After a brief, stern consultation, Simmons allowed the young fast bowler to resume his practice. That tough love paid dividends on Friday evening, as Hasan—who had already impressed with the ball on Day One—delivered a gritty performance with the bat that solidified Bangladesh’s control over the opening Test.
To appreciate the significance of the 76 deliveries Hasan faced, one must consider the pressure of the moment. Bangladesh had just suffered a mini-collapse, losing three key wickets for 11 runs. Although the visitors held a lead exceeding 100 runs, the momentum threatened to shift toward Australia. Pat Cummins was bowling with intense aggression, looking to tear through the lineup and bring the hosts back into the contest. Despite a shaky start involving several edges and misses, Hasan found his rhythm, ultimately forging an unbeaten 43-run partnership with Mehidy Hasan Miraz that spanned 147 balls.
This defensive display served a dual purpose: it kept the Australian bowlers toiling in the sapping heat and showcased a level of defiance rarely seen from visiting teams in Australia over the last two decades. The Mehidy-Hasan stand ensured that Bangladesh has now claimed victory in five out of the six sessions played thus far. Australia has been forced to play catch-up since the dismissal of Jake Weatherald shortly after the first drinks break on Thursday morning, leaving the home side struggling to regain a foothold in the match.
The performance has raised significant questions regarding the current composition and form of the Australian side, particularly as they look toward a challenging 12-month period. While Australia’s world-class pace trio and Nathan Lyon maintained their intensity throughout the day—aided briefly by the second new ball—they failed to break the game open as they typically do on home soil. Even against the aggressive tactics of England’s ‘Bazball’ approach last year, the Australians remained formidable; however, Bangladesh’s methodical, old-school discipline has provided a blueprint for dismantling the hosts.
Not since India’s dominant 2018-19 summer tour has an opposition team looked so composed and in command with the bat on Australian pitches. As Australia prepares for an upcoming tour of South Africa in October, other nations—notably New Zealand, who have a four-Test series scheduled later this year—will be analyzing this match closely. This historic performance by Bangladesh has not only highlighted their own progress as a Test-playing nation but has also cast a critical light on the current standing of the Australian team in the international arena.
And his admonishing tone was justified, considering he’d only a few minutes earlier yelled out, “I want all of you to give me 40-50 balls each in the match,” at the tailenders who he’d intentionally asked to pad up first for a hit.
He’d then even summon Hasan for a quick headmasterly chat before letting his young fast bowler having another go.
To really understand just how vital the 76 deliveries Hasan faced late on Friday were to the visitors’ overall cause, we need to dial back to the point he’d walked out to bat.
It was the classic Australian cauldron setting.
Pumped up fast bowlers buoyed by a string of wickets and a packed slip cordon.
Though still already more than a 100 runs ahead, this mini-collapse had threatened to let the home team back into the Test in via the backdoor.
This was also Cummins at his rip-roaring best, when he gets the bit between his teeth and tears apart opposition batting line-ups and matches.
And even though it didn’t start promisingly for Hasan, as he edged and played-and-missed his way out of danger, the youngster’s gumption, and his coach’s orders, really started to come to the fore as he started to hold off the Australian charge.
Hasan ended up putting on an unbeaten stand of 43 in 147 deliveries with Mehidy Hasan Miraz, the third longest of the Bangladesh innings at this stage.
For all the deserving applause that has come Bangladesh’s way from around the world what does it say about Australia though?
For all the talk around the career-defining 12 months ahead for Pat Cummins and his team, the last two days have thrown up newer questions than already existed about the make-up of their team and some of their personnel.
It was their relentless coupled with the sudden burst of energy that the second new-ball provided that even gave the Aussies some respite at the start of the third session.
Bangladesh’s methodical and old-school approach to breaking them down, through discipline and partnership batting though once again provided the perfect blueprint as to what can be done against this lot.
It’s not since the 2018-19 summer when India put the famed quartet to the sword by amassing big totals repeatedly has a team looked so much in command with the bat as Bangladesh have over the last day and a bit.
