Archive · 12 Aug 2026
Darwin Test: 3 days or 5? Bangladesh captain responds
Bangladesh's cricket team has traveled to Australia to play a Test match, the longest kind of cricket game.
It has been 23 years since they last played a Test match in Australia.
Before the game, people asked their captain whether the match would end after three days or last all five days.
They asked because Bangladesh had played poorly in a practice match, getting out for just 54 runs.
The captain, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, said his team wants to play until the fifth day.
He said they practiced on fast, bouncy pitches at home to get ready.
The Australian captain, Pat Cummins, joked that 'who knows' when asked how long the game would last.
He said Bangladesh has talented players and should not be underestimated.
The match is being played in Darwin, a city in Australia.
Both teams are eager to see if Bangladesh can surprise everyone.
Bangladesh captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto said his team wants the Test against Australia in Darwin to last the full five days, taking it 'session by session.'
The question followed Bangladesh's second-innings collapse to 54 in their tour game against Cricket Australia XI, with Campbell Thomson taking 8/25.
Shanto said the key is dealing with bounce and that the team is confident after preparing on bouncy wickets at home and arriving 10-12 days early.
Australia captain Pat Cummins replied 'who knows!' when asked about the match length and said Bangladesh are a side to be a little nervous about in ICC events.
Bangladesh, fourth in the World Test Championship standings ahead of India, are playing their first Test in Australia in 23 years, having beaten Pakistan home and away and won a Test in New Zealand.
- Who
- Bangladesh captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto and Australia captain Pat Cummins
- What
- The captains were asked whether the Test between Bangladesh and Australia would last three days or five, and both responded about the match and their preparations
- When
- Ahead of the Test in Darwin; the exact date is not stated in the article, but Bangladesh arrived 10-12 days before the match
- Where
- Darwin, Australia
- Why
- The question was prompted by Bangladesh's heavy defeat in the tour game, while Bangladesh aim to prove themselves in their first Australia Test in 23 years
Five-day believers
Early-finish sceptics
How long will the Test last?
Five-day believers
Bangladesh captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto says the team wants to play to the fifth day, taking it session by session, and is confident after preparing on bouncy wickets at home.
Early-finish sceptics
Media questioning assumed the game could be over in three days or less, pointing to Bangladesh's second-innings collapse to 54 in the tour game against Cricket Australia XI.
Can Bangladesh compete in Australia?
Five-day believers
Supporters cite Bangladesh's fourth-place WTC standing, series wins over Pakistan home and away, and a Test win in New Zealand as proof they can compete.
Early-finish sceptics
Sceptics note Bangladesh's lack of experience in Australia, the tour-game collapse, and the challenge of unfamiliar bounce and conditions.
- Event
- First Test between Bangladesh and Australia in Australia in 23 years
- Venue
- Darwin, Australia
- WTC position
- Bangladesh fourth, ahead of India
- Tour game result
- Bangladesh bowled out for 54 in the second innings against Cricket Australia XI
- Key bowlers in tour game
- Campbell Thomson 8/25; Corey Rocchiccioli 6/83
- Bangladesh captain's aim
- Play until the fifth day, session by session
- Recent Bangladesh results
- Beat Pakistan home and away; won a Test in New Zealand
- Last Bangladesh Test in Australia
- When Steve Waugh led the home team