Bangladesh aim rare feat: Has any Asian team won a Test in Australia by an innings?
Bangladesh are knocking on the door of history in Darwin, and victory could put them on the brink of another rare achievement. Asian teams have won 14 Tests in Australia, but has any team won a Test on Australian soil by an innings? Yes, but only twice, with the last instance coming 45 years ago in 1981. India and Pakistan have achieved the feat once each, and Bangladesh now have a chance to become the third.
Bishan Singh Bedi’s India achieved the feat against Bob Simpson’s Australia in 1978, winning by an innings and two runs at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Three years later, Javed Miandad’s Pakistan emulated them, defeating Greg Chappell’s Australia by an innings and 82 runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1981.
Bangladesh now have an opportunity to join that exclusive list, although they first need to complete a victory that would itself be historic. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are the only Test-playing nations from Asia yet to win a Test in Australia, but the visitors have put themselves in an excellent position in Darwin. Australia ended the third day on 161 for four, still 67 runs behind Bangladesh, with six wickets in hand.
INSTANCE OF ASIAN TEAMS WINNING BY AN INNINGS IN AUSTRALIA
- India: Inns and 2 runs, Sydney, 1978
- Pakistan: Inns and 82 runs, Melbourne, 1981
HOW BANGLADESH HAVE DOMINATED AUSTRALIA
Bangladesh have controlled the contest from the opening innings. Hasan Mahmud’s career-best six-wicket haul helped bowl Australia out for 198, before the visitors responded with 426 to take a commanding 228-run lead. Tanzid Hasan’s century provided the backbone of the innings, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz contributed a valuable 65.
Australia found themselves under pressure again in the second innings. Steve Smith was dismissed for 44 by Mehidy, while Taijul Islam accounted for Marnus Labuschagne for 31. Hasan Mahmud also struck twice as Bangladesh continued to break through Australia’s batting order.
Cameron Green and Alex Carey offered Australia some resistance, reaching 43 and 19 respectively by stumps. However, the hosts still need to wipe out the 67-run deficit before they can think about setting Bangladesh a target.
For Bangladesh, the challenge is now to maintain their composure. Mehidy has already warned that the pitch remains good and that every wicket will require hard work. The visitors cannot afford to ease off with history within reach.
If Bangladesh take the remaining six wickets and chase down whatever target Australia set, they will register their first Test win in Australia. An innings victory, however, would take them into even more exclusive company, alongside India’s 1978 triumph and Pakistan’s 1981 demolition.
– Ends
