Archive · 14 Aug 2026
Ponting slams Australia's 'outplayed, outwitted' batters after Darwin Test collapse
Cricket is a game where two teams take turns hitting a ball with a bat and running to score runs.
In this match, Australia and Bangladesh are playing each other in a city called Darwin.
Australia got to bat first, but they did not do very well.
They only scored 198 runs before all their players were out.
One bowler from Bangladesh, Hasan Mahmud, got six players out all by himself.
Steve Smith was the only Australian player who scored a lot of runs, with 71.
A famous former player named Ricky Ponting said the Australian batters were rusty and had technical problems.
He also said the selectors missed chances to try younger players on the team.
Ponting used to be Australia's captain, and he was surprised they chose to bat first.
Now Bangladesh is ahead in the match, and Australia needs to play much better to win.
Australia were bowled out for 198 after opting to bat first on day one of the first Test against Bangladesh in Darwin.
Bangladesh pacer Hasan Mahmud tore through Australia's lineup with figures of 6-55.
Steve Smith's 71 was the only notable contribution as Bangladesh's lead crossed 150.
Ricky Ponting blamed early-season rustiness and technical flaws in the top order and questioned the decision to bat first.
Ponting urged selectors to look at younger talent, noting Australia fielded their oldest Test side since 1928.
- Who
- Australia's Test team, Bangladesh's Test team, and former Australia captain Ricky Ponting, who criticised the hosts' batting.
- What
- Australia were bowled out for 198 on day one and trailed Bangladesh by more than 150 runs in the first Test.
- When
- Day one of the ongoing first Test, early in Australia's season.
- Where
- Darwin.
- Why
- Ponting blamed early-season rustiness and technical flaws in the top order, and questioned Australia's decision to bat first.
Ponting's View
Selectors and Decision-Makers
Decision to bat first after winning the toss
Ponting's View
Ponting was surprised Australia chose to bat, saying the Australian seamers would have been near-on unplayable on that wicket in the morning and noting Bangladesh scored just 54 in their warm-up game.
Selectors and Decision-Makers
Australia's decision to bat first suggested they expected a much bigger score; Ponting noted that when you win the toss and bat, everyone expects more than 190 against an attack like Bangladesh's.
Team selection: youth vs experience
Ponting's View
Ponting believes selectors missed an opportunity to look at younger talent, arguing the current side has not looked up to Test standard and urging them to pick on talent and gut-feel rather than just numbers.
Selectors and Decision-Makers
The selectors have stuck with an experienced group, and Ponting acknowledged the Sheffield Shield numbers for young batters are not outstanding, suggesting there may not be much better waiting beneath the current side.
- Match
- First Test, Australia vs Bangladesh
- Venue
- Darwin
- Australia's first innings
- 198 all out
- Top Australian scorer
- Steve Smith, 71
- Bangladesh's leading bowler
- Hasan Mahmud, 6-55
- Team note
- Oldest Australian Test side since 1928
- Only Australian under 30
- Cameron Green, 27
- Tests until end of WTC
- 21
