{"id":257994,"date":"2026-08-15T08:36:12","date_gmt":"2026-08-15T08:36:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/15\/australia-on-brink-of-historic-defeat-to-bangladesh-as-batting-woes-resurface\/"},"modified":"2026-08-15T08:36:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-15T08:36:12","slug":"australia-on-brink-of-historic-defeat-to-bangladesh-as-batting-woes-resurface","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/15\/australia-on-brink-of-historic-defeat-to-bangladesh-as-batting-woes-resurface\/","title":{"rendered":"Australia on brink of historic defeat to Bangladesh as batting woes resurface"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Australia will have to dig themselves out of a huge hole without their best batsman Steve Smith after Bangladesh kept their foot on the hosts\u2019 throat in pursuit of an upset Test win in Darwin.<\/p>\n

Under-pressure all-rounder Cameron Green, who was bailed out by a stroke of luck, was looking composed on an unbeaten 43 at stumps on day three, along with wicketkeeper Alex Carey (19 no), as Australia reached 161 for 4 in their second innings.<\/p>\n

The hosts still trail by 67 runs after Bangladesh were dismissed for 426<\/a> just after lunch on Saturday.<\/p>\n

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Openers Jake Weatherald (0) and Travis Head (17) both chopped on to paceman Hasan Mahmud before tea. After the break Marnus Labuschagne (31) played all around a half-volley from spinner Taijul Islam. For a set batsman, it was a cardinal error.<\/p>\n

Green, on 12, inside-edged Taskin Ahmed for four via his leg stump in a moment of good fortune. Replays showed the ball hit the outside of the stump but the bails stayed on.<\/p>\n

The dismissal of Smith (44) was out of character in the extreme as he pushed an innocuous delivery from spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz straight back to the bowler.<\/p>\n

<\/svg><\/span>Steve Smith bats in good touch before being dismissed for 44 to leave Australia\u2019s hopes in tatters against Bangladesh.<\/span> Photograph: William West\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Australia will have to rewrite the Test history books on home soil if they want to beat Bangladesh after the visitors took a first-innings lead of 228.<\/p>\n

Bangladesh all-rounder Mehidy (65) and the tail took the total to 426 all out after lunch on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Australia paceman Josh Hazlewood was the shining light with the ball, taking 6 for 89. The wicket of Mehidy was his 300th in Test cricket as he became the ninth Australian to reach the milestone.<\/p>\n

The largest first-innings deficit Australia have come back from to win a Test on home soil was 206, when they trailed Pakistan at the SCG in 2010.<\/p>\n

On that occasion Michael Hussey made an unbeaten 134 in the second innings and Australia bowled Pakistan out for 176 to win by 36 runs.<\/p>\n

Australia\u2019s woes were summed up before lunch on Saturday when No 10 batter Taskin hooked Pat Cummins for four with disdain. Next ball Smith dropped a sitter at deep backward square leg.<\/p>\n

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