Overview
- Pat Cummins won the toss and chose to bat in the series opener at Marrara Cricket Ground on Thursday, with Australia naming a near full-strength XI that includes Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon and all-rounders Cameron Green and Beau Webster.
- Bangladesh arrive short of key pace options after Nahid Rana was ruled out with a side strain and other quicks manage fitness concerns, forcing a trimmed attack for the Darwin Test.
- The tourists’ confidence was further dented when they were bowled out for 54 in a warm-up match, with Campbell Thompson taking eight wickets to exploit their batting fragility on Australian pitches.
- The match marks Bangladesh’s first Test tour of Australia in 23 years and the first Test in Darwin in 22 years, with broadcasters offering wide global coverage including Star Sports/JioHotstar in India, Seven/7plus and Kayo in Australia, DAZN in the UK and Willow TV in North America.
- The two-Test series carries World Test Championship points and starts a packed 12-month schedule for Australia that has selectors balancing veteran workload and form, a dynamic that will shape team choices and player workloads as the tour progresses.