Australia v Bangladesh live scores: Hosts out to dominate tourists in Darwin
Australia are set to take on Bangladesh in the first Test between the sides on these shores since 2003 — and they will come into the game in Darwin as the firmest of favourites. Follow all the action live!
Cricket: Australia are set to take on Bangladesh in the first Test on these shores between the sides since 2003 — and they will come into the game at Darwin’s TIO Stadium as the firmest of favourites.
The scale of the challenge facing the tourists suffered a disastrous innings-and-53 run loss to a Cricket Australia XI rounded out by fringe State players last week.
Meanwhile, Australia’s selectors have resisted any urge to rest any of the country’s top talent, with a full-strength side named to take on the ICC’s No.9-ranked Test team.
Follow all the action live!
Josh Kempton is reporting live.
Head gone too!
And now Travis Head has followed Jake Weatherald back to the pavillion!
Hasun Mahmud has been rewarded for a strong start with his second wicket, incuding a chop-on from the left-hander.
Are the Aussies under pressure in Darwin?
AUS 2-52
Marnus in
Marnus Labuschagne has arrived at the crease at No.3 and will be desperate to make a big impression.
The Queenslander has opted to leave most of the first seven deliveries he has faced.
AUS 1-46
Weatherald gone!
Hasan Mahmud has dismissed Jake Weatherald to pick up Bangladesh’s first wicket of the tour!
And you can’t say it hasn’t been coming, with the seamer troubling the Darwin-raised opener throughout the session.
Weatherald’s eyes lit up in trademark fashion at a wide delivery but he could only edge through to wicketkeeper Litton Das to depart for 23.
AUS 1-45
Punter masterclass
We’ve had our first Ricky Ponting masterclass of the Australian cricket season.
The Channel Seven expert has gone through the changes Jake Weatherald, who has moved along to 18 not out, has made with his technique.
AUS 0-35
Ebadot on the money
Bangladesh have introduced Ebadot Hussain into the attack and he is keeping the pressure on, inducing some plays-and-misses from Travis Head in his first over before rapping his front pad.
They opted to call for a review for the LBW decision, but ball-tracking showed umpire Kumar Dharmasena was correct and it was going past off stump.
The fast bowler was initially supposed to miss this tour due to paternity leave, but answered a crisis call after Nahid Rana’s injury.
AUS 0-31
Weatherald working hard
The local hero Jake Weatherald has gone along to 14 not out, but both his outside and inside edges have been beaten regularly along the way.
He capped off Hasan Mahmud’s fourth over with a sublime drive down the ground for four, which may give him some confidence.
Weatherald was born and raised with the Northern Territory before starting his State career with South Australia, where he has returned for the upcoming State cricket season after a transformative stint with Tasmania.
AUS 0-31
Big change in shield
Some big news about what our domestic season might look like next season from Channel Seven’s chief cricket reporter Tom Morris.
AUS 0-22
Weatherald scratchy
It’s been a scratchy start for Jake Weatherald here, with Taskin Ahmed and Hasan Mahmud causing him issues.
The left-hander does look more upright after an Ashes summer where a technique some viewed as cramped came under the microscope.
Early luck for Head
Bangladesh are getting the ball in the right areas here.
A leading edge from Travis Head from a Hasan Mahmud delivery went straight up in the air, but somehow lobbed precisely between mid-off and mid-on.
Not easy early
There is some grass on the pitch at TIO Stadium, and Bangladesh’s bowlers are getting the ball in the right areas.
Jake Weatherald got away with a slashing boundary from his first delivery, but is being troubled by Hasan Mahmud here.
AUS 0-8
