Cricket returns to Northern Australia as the team from Down Under is all set to host Bangladesh in a two-match Test series starting on August 13. The first Test will be played at Marrara Stadium in Darwin, while the second Test is scheduled from August 22–26 at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay.
The Australia vs Bangladesh Test series is considered a rare spectacle in cricketing history, as the two sides are meeting in Test cricket for only the seventh time. The last time they faced each other was in 2017 in Chattogram. Interestingly, Marrara Stadium in Darwin hosted the first-ever Test match between Australia and Bangladesh in 2003.
The Bangladesh Tour of Australia 2026 is part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 cycle, and fans can expect a closely fought contest between the two teams.
Australia vs Bangladesh Test Series 2026 Schedule
The schedule for the Australia vs Bangladesh Test series 2026 is given below.
| Match | Dates | Venue | Start Time |
| 1st Test | August 13-17 | Marrara Stadium, Darwin | 6 AM IST |
| 2nd Test | August 22-26 | Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay | 5:30 AM IST |
Australia vs Bangladesh Head-to-Head in Tests
Australia and Bangladesh have met six times in Test cricket, with Australia holding the upper hand. Australia have won five of those matches, while Bangladesh have emerged victorious once.
AUS vs BAN, 1st Test Pitch Report
Marrara Stadium in Darwin is not a regular cricketing venue in Australia, having hosted only a limited number of matches across formats. The venue has staged just two Test matches to date and is set to host the longest format again after a gap of 22 years.
The most recent international fixture at the venue was a T20I between Australia and South Africa in August last year.
We can expect plenty of bounce from the surface, while batters should be able to play their shots once they are set. Since the conditions are unfamiliar to both sides, they will be keen to bowl first.
Australia vs Bangladesh Test Series 2026 Squad Analysis
Since the series is part of the WTC 2025–27 cycle, it carries significant importance for both teams. Australia will be keen to strengthen their position at the top of the standings, while Bangladesh are not far behind and currently sit 4th.
How the Australian Squad Looks – Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood Returns
It has been seven months since Australia last played a Test match, when they faced England in the Ashes in early January and went on to win the series 4–1.
The selectors have announced a strong 13-man squad, led by incoming skipper Pat Cummins, who played just a single game during the Ashes due to injury.
Nathan Lyon, the oldest player in the squad, also returns after featuring in just two Ashes Tests last summer following a severe hamstring injury.
Pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood also returns after recovering from injury and is set to play his first Test in 13 months.
Usman Khawaja, who retired from international cricket following the Ashes earlier this year, is the biggest absentee from the current Australian Test squad.
Jhye Richardson, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, and Todd Murphy, all of whom were part of the Ashes squad, were not considered for selection for the Australia vs Bangladesh Test series.
Travis Head, who was outstanding throughout last summer’s Ashes series while opening the batting for Australia, will be one of the key players to watch in the upcoming Bangladesh Tour of Australia 2026 Test series. The 31-year-old left-hander Jake Weatherald, who had a modest Ashes campaign, will be eager to make a bigger impact against Bangladesh. The duo of Head and Weatherald is set to open the innings for Australia.
Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith will bat at No. 3 and No. 4 respectively, and their presence will be a massive boost for the hosts in home conditions. All-rounders Cameron Green and Beau Webster, along with wicketkeeper Alex Carey, will form the middle order.
Selecting the pace attack was a tough call for the management, with skipper Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Scott Boland all in contention. Cummins and Starc are automatic selections, while Hazlewood and Boland were competing for the final seamer’s spot. However, Hazlewood has been preferred over Boland, with Australia already announcing their starting XI.
Nathan Lyon, the only specialist spinner in the squad, takes his place in the side.
Australia currently sit at the top of the WTC 2025–27 standings with a PCT of 87.50.
Australia Starting XI for 1st Test
Travis Head, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Cameron Green, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
How the Bangladesh Squad Looks – Will Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto Inspire the Team?
With no player in the current squad having previous experience of playing Test cricket in Australia, the upcoming two-match series will be a completely new challenge for the Asian side. They will certainly be tested by Australia’s impressive depth across all departments.
The onus will be on skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto to lead from the front as Bangladesh prepare to play a Test match in Australia for the first time in 23 years.
So far, Bangladesh have performed well in the ongoing WTC 2025–27 cycle, winning two of their four matches, losing one, and drawing the other. They currently sit fourth in the standings with a PCT of 58.33.
Bangladesh last played a Test against Zimbabwe away from home at the end of June and suffered an innings-and-85-run defeat. The match was not part of the WTC. Prior to that, Bangladesh had completed a 2–0 whitewash of Pakistan at home, which significantly boosted the team’s confidence.
Along with captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, the batting unit features Mushfiqur Rahim, Shadman Islam, Litton Das, Mominul Haque, Tanzid Hasan, and the returning Soumya Sarkar.
All-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz, along with Taijul Islam, will spearhead the spin attack. Despite injury concerns, the pace attack includes Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, and uncapped Musfik Hasan. Shoriful Islam, who suffered a hamstring injury during the Zimbabwe tour, has passed a fitness test and is expected to join the squad for the second Test.
Bangladesh Predicted XI for 1st Test
Shadman Islam, Tanzid Hasan, Mominul Haque, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Ebadot Hossain / Khaled Ahmed.
Key Players to Watch Out for in the AUS vs BAN, 1st Test
Travis Head
Known for providing explosive starts at the top of the order, Travis Head will be eager to replicate his Ashes heroics against Bangladesh. He is currently Australia’s leading run-scorer in the ongoing WTC 2025–27 cycle and ranks fifth overall, having scored 853 runs in eight matches at an average of 53.31.
Mitchell Starc
Australian pace spearhead Mitchell Starc is the leading wicket-taker in the WTC 2025–27, with 46 wickets from eight matches, including best innings figures of 7 for 58. He is a lethal bowler and will pose a significant threat to Bangladesh, whose batters have never faced him in Test cricket.
Najmul Hossain Shanto
Bangladesh will rely heavily on their captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, with the bat. He has been the standout performer for his side in the ongoing WTC 2025–27 cycle, scoring 532 runs in 4 matches at an average of 76, with a highest score of 148.
Mushfiqur Rahim
The most experienced member of the Bangladesh squad, Mushfiqur Rahim has played 103 Test matches and scored 6,806 runs at an average of nearly 40. His experience will be crucial for the visitors in challenging Australian conditions.
Rahim has also scored 532 runs in 4 matches during the WTC 2025–27 cycle.
AUS vs BAN 1st Test Winner Prediction
Australia possess exceptional depth across all departments and will enjoy the advantage of home conditions. As a result, they enter the first Test as clear favourites to secure victory.