Australia v Bangladesh, first Test: Ultimate match preview

How to listen: ABC Radio and SEN Radio will bring you live coverage on the wireless of both Test matches this series. News and reactions post-play: cricket.com.au and the CA Live app.

The Unplayable Podcast will also be dropping a new episode after each days' play during the summer. Josh Hazlewood has already been a special guest this summer and expect to see more Test players throughout the summer.

What Happened

Join hosts Josh Schonafinger and Louis Cameron to recap all the action and talking points from the ground. And you can listen to the back catalogue of episodes below.

• Into the squad comes Soumya Sarkar, the 33-year-old opener who hasn't played Test cricket since 2021 but has been recalled to fill an experience gap at the top of the Tigers order.

• He joined a rather elite list in April 2025 when hit a century and took a five-wicket haul in the same match against Zimbabwe, becoming just the third Bangladeshi to achieve the rare feat.

• The only two Tests here were in 2003 and 2004 - when a young local boy named Jake Weatherland was watching on - with the Aussies defeating Bangladesh by an innings and 132 runs.

Key Details

Australia have gone in with a full-strength squad after more than six months out of the Test arena. Dropping out of the playing XI from their most recent match - against England in Sydney in January - are Michael Neser and the.

• In fact, the Tigers have played in Darwin more than any other touring side, as they also visited for a three-match ODI series in 2008.

• In the Test area, their 2026 form has been mixed, winning two of their warm games this calendar year.

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Why It Matters

Returning is captain Pat Cummins and experienced bowlers Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon after the trio played only three Ashes matches between them. Ashes squad members Brendan Doggett, Todd Murphy and Jhye Richardson were also left out.

• Bangladesh's recent matches against Zimbabwe and Ireland don't count towards the WTC so they have played just the four games in this cycle, which began with a 1-0 loss to Sri Lanka over two.

• Australia sit on top of the rankings at roughly the half-way point of the new cycle, with seven wins and a solitary loss making their points percentage a healthy 87.50.

What Reports Say

Coverage of the story so far points to:

• Continued reporting by Cricket.com.au as more details emerge