Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Australia's Darwin Defeat to Bangladesh Revives England Ashes Questions
Cricket is a sport where two teams take turns hitting a ball and scoring runs.
Australia is one of the best cricket teams in the world, and England is another famous team.
Australia and England play a special series of matches called the Ashes.
Last winter, Australia beat England 4-1 in the Ashes.
But now, Australia lost a Test match to Bangladesh, a team that was not expected to beat them.
Bangladesh won by nine wickets, which is a big margin.
This made England wonder why they lost to Australia if Australia could lose to Bangladesh.
A former England player named Stuart Broad said he always thought Australia's batting was not very strong.
Another former England captain, Michael Atherton, said England missed a big chance to beat Australia.
Australia is now thinking about changing their team for the next match.
Australia lost the first Test against Bangladesh in Darwin by nine wickets.
The shock defeat has led England to rethink their 4-1 Ashes loss to a similar Australian side.
Stuart Broad said the result leaves a 'bitter, sour taste' and stood by his pre-Ashes criticism of Australia's batting.
Michael Atherton called England's Ashes summer a major 'missed opportunity' in The Times.
Cricket Australia dropped Jake Weatherald for the second Test, replacing him with Matt Renshaw.
- Who
- Australia and Bangladesh cricket teams; former England players Stuart Broad and Michael Atherton commented on the result.
- What
- Australia suffered a nine-wicket defeat to Bangladesh in the first Test of a two-match series.
- When
- First Test played ahead of the article's publication on August 18, 2026.
- Where
- Darwin, Australia.
- Why
- The shock defeat raised questions about Australia's strength and prompted England to reconsider their Ashes loss to a similar Australian side.
England's Critics of Australia
Australia's Defenders
Australia's batting quality
England's Critics of Australia
Stuart Broad insists Australia's batting lineup was poor and England should have beaten them.
Australia's Defenders
Australia won the Ashes 4-1, indicating their side was strong enough to beat England.
Timing of team changes
England's Critics of Australia
Australia should bring in fresh blood now after the Bangladesh defeat.
Australia's Defenders
Australia could wait until after the next Ashes series before restarting the team.
- Result
- Bangladesh won the first Test by nine wickets
- Series
- Two-match Test series between Australia and Bangladesh
- Venue
- Darwin, Australia
- Publication date
- August 18, 2026
- England's Ashes result
- Lost 4-1 to Australia last winter
- Australia squad change
- Jake Weatherald dropped; Matt Renshaw called up for the second Test
- Notable commentators
- Stuart Broad and Michael Atherton