[WATCH] AUS vs BAN 2026: Steve Smith's bizarre pitch shenanigans leave everyone intrigued
Smith scored 71 off 109 balls before falling to Hasan Mahmud, who completed a five-wicket haul in the 1st Test at Darwin.
Steve Smith drew widespread attention on the opening day of the first Test between Australia and Bangladesh at Marrara Stadium in Darwin on August 13, 2026. The experienced batter was observed rubbing the grass on the pitch surface and moving his hands and legs in what appeared to be a methodical effort to assess how the ball would travel across different areas.
Smith was also seen signalling ball movement, gesturing that deliveries moved up toward the stumps and then away. He moved around different areas of the pitch, visibly analysing how the ball would come to him from various lengths and lines.
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Smith's dismissal and Hasan Mahmud's five-wicket haul
The match carried notable historical weight. Test cricket returned to Darwin for the first time in 22 years, while Bangladesh had not visited Australia for a Test series in 23 years. Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat first on a pitch that had a decent covering of grass and some moisture, with expectation it could be a bowl-first morning.
Smith's pitch reading appeared to serve him well for a significant portion of his innings. He scored 71 runs off 109 balls, hitting seven fours and one six at a strike rate of 65.13, spending 183 minutes at the crease. His dismissal arrived on the fifth ball of the 51st over, when a shortish delivery outside off stump drew him forward. Smith advanced down the track and attempted an upper cut, but extra bounce caused a miscue high toward the slip cordon. Wicketkeeper Litton Das called for and held the catch.
The wicket was taken by Hasan Mahmud and completed a five-wicket haul for the Bangladesh pacer. Bangladesh were missing fast bowlers Nahid Rana and Shoriful Islam from this match, making Hasan Mahmud's performance all the more significant for the touring side.
Australia fielded a notable bowling combination, with Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon all playing together alongside Smith. Scott Boland was left out as Australia brought back this quartet for the first time in more than a year. The two-match series continues with the second Test to follow after this game, which is scheduled to run through August 17, 2026.
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