Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Australia will have to rewrite the Test history books on home soil if they want to beat Bangladesh after the visitors took their first-innings lead beyond 200 in Darwin.
The task ahead for Australia to get back into the match is mammoth after allrounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz (65no) and the tail defied the hosts on the third morning of the first Test to take their first-innings tally to 8-417 at lunch.
It gives the Bangladeshis a first-innings lead of 219 after Australia collapsed to be all out for 198 on day one.
The largest first-innings deficit Australia have come back from to win a Test on home soil was 206, when they trailed Pakistan at the SCG in 2010.
On that occasion Michael Hussey made an unbeaten 134 in the second innings and Australia bowled Pakistan out for 176 to win by 36 runs.
Australia’s woes were summed up before lunch when No.10 batter Taskin Ahmed hooked Pat Cummins for four with disdain. Next ball Steve Smith dropped a sitter at deep backward square leg.
Travis Head then spilled a skied pull by Mehidy, a difficult chance, to make it five dropped catches for the innings by Australia.
The visitors were in no rush, clearly determined to keep the Australian bowlers out in the heat for as long as possible.
Mehidy successfully reviewed an lbw decision against him in Hazlewood’s first over.
Fast bowler Hasan Mahmud (14) wasn’t reprieved when he sent upstairs a Hazlewood delivery that was smashing into middle stump. The 26-year-old had defied the bowlers for 92 deliveries after his brilliant 6-55 in the first innings.
Spinner Taijul Islam (17) took a more aggressive approach, flipping Hazlewood over the square leg boundary before slashing the same bowler to gully, in a handy cameo.
Hazlewood (4-86) vindicated his selection ahead of the unlucky Scott Boland and was the pick of the bowlers.
Bangladesh’s first innings lead was set up by a maiden ton for Tanzid Hasan (101) and an aggressive 84 by captain Najmul Hossain Shanto.
Australia allrounder Beau Webster said the path to victory was not insurmountable.
“We have got some naturally aggressive batters all ready to move the scoreboard along. Hopefully the wicket stays true and nice and we can put some pressure back on their bowlers,” Webster said.
“A day and half of really good batting at a half-decent clip gets us right back in this contest.
“Batting last in a Test match on a hopefully worn wicket could be tricky (for Bangladesh) if it is a small chase.
“I think that is our obvious way to win the game.”
