Former Australia captains and batters Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden have called for changes to Australia's Test team after Bangladesh inflicted a historic nine-wicket defeat on Pat Cummins' side in Darwin. Australia were comprehensively outplayed in the opening Test, suffering their first Test defeat to Bangladesh on home soil. The result has prompted calls for the selectors to begin rebuilding the side ahead of the second Test in Mackay, Queensland, starting on August 22.
Ponting, speaking to Channel 7, described the loss as a "very embarrassing defeat" and said the result should force Australia to begin regenerating the team. "Look, I’m the last one who wants to make change. As a captain or as a player, I wanted to keep the group together," the former Australia captain said. Ponting stressed that he had previously been reluctant to advocate for major changes, but believed there had already been enough signs before the series that Australia could start introducing fresh faces. "It has to get to a bad point before I start saying you ought to leave somebody out. But there had been enough evidence for me coming here to suggest that they weren’t going to lose anything or much at all by starting that regeneration, by maybe bringing in another opener, by maybe bringing in someone at No. 3," he said. "And I think if they lose here, then I think that has to happen." Matthew Hayden also backed the idea of reshaping Australia's batting order, suggesting Sam Konstas and Matt Renshaw should be brought back into the side. Hayden believes Travis Head should move down the order rather than continue opening, while he questioned Alex Carey's position at No. 5. "(Opening is) not (Head’s) best position. I think his best position is still at No. 5. I don’t like Alex Carey coming out at No. 5," Hayden said. The former Australia opener said the current combination appeared uncertain despite the depth available in Australian cricket. "It just feels a little shaky and uncertain," he added. "And why are we in this position? Australian cricket is so strong. It doesn’t need to be in that position, in my opinion." Hayden also acknowledged that selecting the replacements would not be straightforward, particularly when deciding between players with current match fitness and those with greater potential. "But who you pick, that’s a great question. Are you picking match-fit players or are you picking players on talent? Like a Sammy Konstas, for example?" he said. Australia's batting struggles were exposed during the first Test after they were bowled out for 198 in their first innings. Bangladesh responded with 426, taking a 228-run lead. Cameron Green offered Australia's strongest resistance in the second innings with 104, his third Test century and first in Australia. However, Mehidy Hasan Miraz claimed five wickets as Australia were dismissed for 284. Bangladesh then chased a target of 57 in only 14.2 overs, losing one wicket to complete a landmark victory. The result has increased pressure on Australia's selectors, with Ponting and Hayden now joining the growing calls for changes before the second Test.