Australia v Bangladesh live scores: Hosts aiming to bounce back from embarrassing first day in Darwin
After a first day in Darwin unexpectedly dominated by Bangladesh, Australia will be aiming to bounce back in the first Test at Darwin’s TIO Stadium. Follow all the action live!
Cricket: After a first day in Darwin unexpectedly dominated by Bangladesh, Australia will be aiming to bounce back in the first Test at Darwin’s TIO Stadium.
Australia managed a below-par total of 198 against the visitors’ unheralded bowling attack - and that would have been much worse if not for Steve Smith, who played a lone hand with 71.
Bangladesh steadied to 1-96 at stumps on the back of a 60-run second-wicket stand between Mominul Haque (35 not out) and Tanzid Hasan (32 not out), who easily dealt with a vaunted bowling attack.
Can Australia respond? Follow all the action live!
Josh Kempton is reporting live.
Punter’s take
Ricky Ponting was not impressed with Australia’s “very, very poor day of Test cricket”.
“There was a challenging wicket, yes. Australia won the toss, elected to bat, but they’ve got to be better than 198,” he told Channel Seven’s coverage.
“Once again, I think we saw the frailties in technique with this top order. You know, we’re not asking guys to go out and get 100 or 200 out there, but we need our top order to find a way just to get 30 or 40. Keep your team in the contest. And once again, they weren’t good enough to do that yesterday.
“We were looking for some reinvention, some intent. And as you mentioned, those technique improvements from the top order, we got it from Steve Smith, of course, but not from the rest of the side.”
State of play
Bangladesh’s No.3 Mominul Haque (35 not out) and opener Tanzid Hasan (32 not out) will resume after compiling a 60-run second-wicket stand before stumps last night.
Tanzid did offer an early catching chance with an ill-advised attempt to loft Josh Hazlewood over the infield, but Nathan Lyon put down the skied opportunity at point.
Hello!
And welcome to our coverage of the second day of the first Test between Australia and Bangladesh in Darwin.
The first day belonged to the tourists, who will resume only 102 runs in arrears after bowling their hosts out for 198 at TIO Stadium.
Can Australia respond?
