BAN v AUS, 1st Test, Day 1- 5 Talking Points

The first day of the first Test between Bangladesh and Australia saw a lot of entertainment and some intense cricketing action. It was expected to be a cracking contest considering Australia’s poor form in Asia and Bangladesh’s ability to master home games. There were question marks over the ability of the Australians to deal with the spinning track at Mirpur.

However, Steve Smith and his men were asked to bowl first after the Bangladeshis won the toss. The hosts who were oozing with confidence ahead of the match were rattled early into the innings by Aussie speedster Pat Cummins. Opening batsman Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan started the revival act for the hosts as they formed a partnership of 155 runs. After the departure of the two valiant warriors, no batsman in the Bangladeshi lineup could make it big and they were restricted to a mere total of 260 in the first innings.

Coming on for their stint with the ball, the Bangladesh spinners weaved magic on the pitch as Australian batsmen looked like fish out of water on a dry wicket that was offering spin on the very first day. Vice captain David Warner, Usman Khawaja and Nathan Lyon were sent back to the pavilion in the 9 overs left in the day. And suddenly there was panic in the Australian camp. The day ended with the Australians putting up just 18 runs on the board for the loss of 3 wickets. Here are the 5 talking points that sum up the first day’s play:

1. Tamim Iqbal’s knock:

After going through a hard time in England which followed him even after he returned to his country, Tamim looked a lot before coming into the match. He did a brilliant job to stay at the crease while Pat Cummins manhandled his colleagues at the other end. His knock of 71 runs from 144 balls was an immensely matured one and contributed hugely in taking Bangladesh to a respectable total. He smashed 6 boundaries and 3 maximums in the process.

2. Shakib Al Hasan’s batting:

Shakib came at the crease as a remedy for Bangladesh when they found themselves in huge trouble at 10/3. The all-rounder was brilliant in combining with Tamim and the duo made all their experience count. Both the batsmen stayed glued to the cause and prevented any further loss of wickets while stitching 155 runs partnership which didn;t just stabilize things but got them to a decent total.

Shakib batted for 133 deliveries and scored 84 runs coming true to the expectations yet again. He together with Tamim took the score to 165 before his partner became Glenn Maxwell’s first and only success.

3. Australia’s bowling:

The Australians were right on the money from the beginning of the match as a brilliant spell from Pat Cummins initiated the match for the team. Cummins rattled the Bangladeshi top order with ease as he grabbed the wicket of Soumya Sarkar to draw first blood. He took two more wickets in quick succession as he removed both Imrul Kayes and Sabbir Rahman for ducks. Tamim and Shakib joined hands to calm down a ruthless Cummins.

Then the spinners came into the party and were successful in breaking the partnership. Both the frontline spinners Nathan Lon and Ashton Agar picked up 3 wickets each to equal Pat Cummins in the match. Maxwell was the only other bowler to take a wicket as the Australians bundled out the Bangladeshi team for just 260 runs. It was a dominant bowling performance by the visitors away from home in the absence of primary speedster Mitchell Starc.

4. Rattled Australia:

The Australians failed to capitalize on their brilliant bowling performance as they find themselves in turmoil at the end of day’s play. Warner who survived a scare in their intra-squad match at Darwin, fell victim to Mehidy Hasan early in the innings. The left-handed batsman was trapped in front and that gave the Bangladeshis an early boost.

Khawaja who made it to the starting line up after a lot of doubts was the second Austrailian to depart after scoring just 6 runs as he attempted a run that never existed. Shakib Al Hasan made it 3 for his team when he sent back the night watchman Nathan Lyon.

5. Huge task at hand:

The Bangladeshi bowlers managed to end the day on a high as they shook the Aussie batting line-up in the last hour of the day’s play. The hosts seem to have a firm grip in the game given their superiority in home conditions. Steve Smith & Co. now find themselves in huge trouble as they ended the day’s play at 19 runs at the loss of 2 wickets. The pitch will deteriorate further as the game progresses and unless for a spirited effort from the batsmen still in the hut, the tide of the game seems to be in favour of the hosts.

The Tigers will look to carry on the momentum and start the second day on a high. It will be exciting to see how skipper Smith and the young Matt Renshaw who showed a lot of character on the tour of India handle the huge task at hand.