Overview
- Smith equalled Joe Root's all-time Test catches record on Friday when he took three second-slip catches during Bangladesh's first innings at the Marrara (TIO) Stadium in Darwin.
- The three dismissals were edges from Najmul Hossain Shanto, Litton Das and Mushfiqur Rahim, taken off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc in successive overs.
- By the end of Day 3 Australia trailed Bangladesh and were 161 for 4 in their second innings, still 67 runs behind Bangladesh's first-innings 426 as Bangladesh moved within six wickets of a win.
- The match also produced two major bowling milestones: Josh Hazlewood reached 300 Test wickets with figures of 6 for 89, and Bangladesh pacer Hasan Mahmud recorded a career-best 6 for 55.
- Smith reached 218 catches in his 124th Test compared with Root's 166 Tests, and he can become sole record-holder with one more catch while also chasing batting milestones as Australia try to recover.