A moment from Australia's second innings in the first Test against Bangladesh at Marrara Stadium, Darwin, drew attention on August 15. Travis Head was bowled by Hasan Mahmud in the 11th over of the innings after scoring 17 runs. The ball caught an inside edge and deflected back onto the stumps, dislodging the bails. Head turned around, placed the bails back onto the stumps and then made his way off the field, a gesture that appeared to reflect his frustration at the dismissal.
Cricket Australia's official X account shared footage of the incident, which circulated widely among cricket followers. The clip showed Mahmud bowling from around the wicket, with the inside edge doing the damage as the ball cannoned back into the stumps.
"I've never seen that in all my cricketing career."
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) August 15, 2026
Travis Head chopped on for a second time in this match, but his considerate move even caught Adam Gilchrist off guard. #AUSvBAN pic.twitter.com/LEKgbtbshq
Mahmud's first-innings dominance set the tone
This was not the first time Mahmud had troubled Head in the match. In the first innings, both Head and opening partner Jake Weatherald fell to the Bangladesh pacer. Weatherald was dismissed driving at a wide delivery, while Mahmud built sustained pressure on the Australian top order throughout that opening session. Mahmud dismissed Weatherald in the second innings as well, chopping on in the second over of the innings.
Mahmud's first-innings performance was the defining feature of Day 1 at Darwin. He finished with figures of 6/55 as Bangladesh bowled Australia out for 198 on the opening evening. Steve Smith top-scored for Australia with 71 runs. Mahmud's sixth wicket arrived when Nathan Lyon top-edged a pull shot to midwicket. The 6/55 was Mahmud's third five-wicket haul in Test cricket, with a previous fifer of 5/83 coming against India in Chennai in September 2024.
Bangladesh's historic tour of Australia
Bangladesh finished their batting innings with a mammoth 426, finishing with a substantial 228-run lead. Tanzid Hasan, playing just his second Test match, scored his maiden century, while skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto scored a well-made 84 and Mehdiy Hasan Miraz scored a well-made 65, batting with the tail.
The first Test between Australia and Bangladesh is scheduled to run from August 13 to 17.