Ending a 23-year hiatus, Bangladesh are set to play Test cricket on Australian soil once again. The Tigers last featured in a Test match down under back in 2003. That long wait finally comes to an end on Thursday, 13 August, when Bangladesh take on Australia at the Marrara Cricket Ground in Darwin.
The opening fixture of the two-match series is scheduled to begin at 6:30 am Bangladesh Time. The second and final Test will take place in Mackay on 22 August. Beyond the historical significance of Bangladesh’s return to Australia, the series presents several players from both sides with opportunities to reach major personal milestones.
The key statistical benchmarks, individual targets, and performance metrics defining this series are detailed below:
| Player / Metric |
Career Context & Milestone Target |
| Mushfiqur Rahim (Target Runs) |
Needs 194 runs to reach 7,000 Test runs |
| Mushfiqur Rahim (Career Record) |
6,806 runs in 103 Tests (190 innings), 14 centuries, 29 fifties |
| Steven Smith (Opposition Record) |
119 runs in 2 Tests vs Bangladesh at an average of 29.75 |
| Steven Smith (Target) |
Seeking his first Test century against Bangladesh |
| Josh Hazlewood (Career Wickets) |
295 Test wickets to date |
| Josh Hazlewood (Target) |
Needs 5 wickets to reach 300 Test wickets |
| Mitchell Starc (Career Record) |
431 Test wickets in 105 Tests (202 innings) |
| Mitchell Starc (Kapil Dev Target) |
Needs 4 wickets to surpass Kapil Dev (434 wickets) |
| Mitchell Starc (Dale Steyn Target) |
Needs 9 wickets to surpass Dale Steyn (439 wickets) |
| Travis Head (Strike Rate as Opener) |
91.7 strike rate since opening in 2025 (highest globally) |
| Travis Head (Boundary Frequency) |
Averages 12.7 boundaries per 100 balls as an opener |
| Australian Pace Average (Overall) |
20.75 runs per wicket over the past two years |
| Australian Pace Average (vs Right-Handers) |
19.55 runs per wicket |
| Australian Pace Average (vs Left-Handers) |
24.08 runs per wicket |
Bangladesh’s veteran batter Mushfiqur Rahim stands on the verge of making national history. Over a career spanning nearly 21 years, he has amassed 6,806 runs. Scoring an additional 194 runs during this tour would make him the first Bangladeshi batter to cross the 7,000-run threshold in Test cricket. Navigating Australia’s formidable bowling attack in unfamiliar conditions will prove a stern test, demanding all of his experience.
On the home side, former captain Steven Smith has his eyes on an elusive achievement. Bangladesh remain the only World Test Championship nation against whom Smith has yet to score a Test century. During his previous outing against Bangladesh in 2017, he managed 119 runs across two Tests at a modest average of 29.75. Dismissing him early will be a top priority for the Bangladeshi bowling unit.
Australia’s pace bowlers also stand on the brink of history. Josh Hazlewood needs just five wickets to join the 300-wicket club, a feat that would make him the 9th Australian and 42nd bowler globally to achieve the milestone. Meanwhile, left-arm paceman Mitchell Starc requires four wickets to pass Kapil Dev’s tally of 434, while nine wickets would see him overtake South African legend Dale Steyn (439 wickets).
The visitors face a daunting task against Australia’s bowling lineup. Over the last two years, Australian pacers have conceded just 20.75 runs per wicket—second only to South Africa’s 20.16. Their effectiveness rises further against right-handed batters, where their average drops to 19.55. Given that Bangladesh’s batting order is heavily right-handed, overcoming this pace barrage will decide whether they can compete effectively in Darwin and Mackay.
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