Bangladesh’s preparations for their long-awaited Test series in Australia began with a mixed performance, as they were dismissed for 263 in their only warm-up match against a Cricket Australia XI in Darwin. While the batting line-up struggled collectively, all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz produced a superb unbeaten century to provide the visitors with a competitive total.
The warm-up fixture carries added significance for Bangladesh, who are touring Australia for a Test series for the first time in 23 years. With the opening Test approaching, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto elected to bat first after winning the toss on Thursday. However, Bangladesh’s innings lasted just 75.5 overs before they were bowled out for 263.
Miraz emerged as the standout performer, remaining unbeaten on 109 from 141 deliveries. His innings combined composure with controlled aggression, featuring 11 boundaries and four sixes. At a time when wickets continued to tumble around him, the experienced all-rounder held the innings together and ensured Bangladesh posted a respectable total.
Bangladesh’s top order failed to capitalise on favourable batting conditions. Opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim was dismissed without scoring after facing eight deliveries, edging Hanno Jacobs to Sam Konstas with the team score on seven. Fellow opener Shadman Islam looked more assured, compiling 31 from 47 balls before becoming one of Corey Rocchiccioli’s victims.
The middle order also found scoring difficult. Mominul Haque managed only 16 before falling to Rocchiccioli, while veteran Mushfiqur Rahim endured a rare failure, departing for a four-ball duck to the same off-spinner. By the lunch interval, Bangladesh had slipped to 78 for 4, leaving considerable work for the remaining batters.
Captain Shanto attempted to rebuild the innings alongside Amit Hasan. The partnership briefly steadied the visitors before Amit was dismissed for 15, followed by Shanto for a patient 37. Soumya Sarkar added 16 but could not convert his start into a significant contribution.
With little support from the lower order, Miraz carried the responsibility almost single-handedly. He balanced defence with timely attacking strokes, frustrating the home bowlers and lifting Bangladesh beyond the 250-run mark. His century was the clear highlight of an otherwise inconsistent batting display and demonstrated the temperament expected from one of the side’s most dependable all-rounders.
For the Cricket Australia XI, off-spinner Corey Rocchiccioli was the dominant bowler. The 28-year-old claimed an impressive six wickets, dismantling Bangladesh’s middle order and putting his side firmly in control throughout much of the innings. The remaining four wickets were shared by four different bowlers, each taking one. Notably, apart from only two players with senior national-team experience in the Cricket Australia XI, none of the bowlers who featured have yet made their international debut.
Although warm-up matches are primarily designed to help players adjust to local conditions rather than determine results, Bangladesh will draw both positives and concerns from the contest. Miraz’s outstanding century offers encouragement ahead of the Test series, but repeated batting collapses and the inability of several experienced batters to convert starts into substantial scores will remain areas the team management is keen to address before the first Test begins.
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