Bangladesh encountered a significant blow in their preparation for the upcoming Test series against Australia, suffering a crushing defeat by an innings and 38 runs against the Cricket Australia XI in Darwin. The match was defined by a disastrous batting collapse in the second innings, where Najmul Hossain Shanto’s side was bundled out for just 54 runs, failing to overcome the deficit established by the hosts.
The visitors initially posted 263 runs in their first innings, but the Cricket Australia XI responded with 355, securing a 92-run lead. Tasked with erasing this gap to stay competitive, the Bangladeshi batting lineup crumbled under pressure. The innings lasted only 21.6 overs, with 22-year-old left-arm pacer Campbell Thompson emerging as the primary threat. Thompson delivered a devastating spell, claiming 8 wickets for just 25 runs in his 11-over stint, effectively dismantling the Bangladeshi order.
The collapse began the previous day when Thompson dismissed Shadman Islam for 6, followed by Muminul Haque, who was bowled for 6. The situation worsened rapidly as play resumed; captain Najmul Hossain Shanto fell for a duck, trapped lbw by Thompson. Soumya Sarkar managed only 5 runs, and Mushfiqur Rahim contributed just 2 before also falling to the same bowler. By the time the team reached 36 runs, four wickets had already been lost. Tanjid Hasan Tamim attempted a brief resistance with 22 runs, but once he departed, the lower order offered little support. Amit Hasan was caught off Corey Rocchiccioli for 4, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz followed shortly after, leaving the team reeling at 45 for 6.
Hasan Mahmud remained unbeaten on 2, but he quickly ran out of partners as Thompson returned to claim the wickets of Taskin Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain, bringing the innings to a swift conclusion. Corey Rocchiccioli supported the attack by taking the remaining 2 wickets. This heavy defeat in the warm-up match serves as a stark warning for the team, raising serious concerns regarding the batting form of key players like Shanto and Mushfiqur ahead of the official Test series.
