Australia are on the brink of a rare home Test defeat after Bangladesh reached 426 all out and then reduced the hosts to 161 for 4 by stumps on day three in Darwin. Live Scores will show Australia still needing to rewrite their home history if they are to recover from a first-innings deficit of 228.
The scale of the task is clear. Australia’s biggest successful home Test comeback came against Pakistan at the SCG in 2010, when they recovered from a deficit of 206. This one is already bigger, and that is why the final two days will demand something close to perfect discipline from the hosts.
Australia still have work to do
By the close, Australia trailed by 67 runs, with Cameron Green unbeaten on 43. It was not straightforward work either, as he survived a lucky edge through the leg stump area to remain in control at the end of play.
That leave Australia with one obvious priority: get as close as possible to Bangladesh’s total without losing any more wickets quickly. The lower the deficit gets, the more pressure shifts back onto the visitors, but the margin remains large enough to leave Australia under real strain.
Bangladesh have put Australia under serious pressure
Bangladesh’s total of 426 all out after lunch on Saturday gave them the platform they needed. It was enough to create a lead that has already pushed Australia into unfamiliar territory on home soil, where the expectation is usually that they dictate matches rather than chase them.
Australia now face a challenge that is both practical and historical. They need runs, but they also need to avoid the kind of collapse that would hand Bangladesh one of the most significant away wins in their Test history.
For now, the numbers tell the story. Australia are 161 for 4, still 67 runs behind, and still a long way from turning this contest around.
