STRUGGLING Australia have collapsed to a humiliating first ever Test defeat to cricketing minnows Bangladesh.
The Aussies were chasing 265 to win, and looked to be coasting to a comfortable win at 158 for two, with their two best batsmen – David Warner and Steve Smith – at the crease.
But Warner was given out LBW for 112 to trigger an alarming collapse as eight wickets fell for 86 runs as the Aussies were skittled out for 244, to give Bangladesh a shock 20-run victory.
The way the wickets tumbled in Dhaka will be a massive concern for the Australians just weeks before the first Ashes Test in Brisbane on November 23.
Left-arm spin bowler Shakib Al Hasan claimed his second 10-wicket haul as Bangladesh sealed the landmark victory – just their 10th victory in 101 Tests.
Shakib took five Australian scalps for 85, following his 84 in the first innings to confirm his status as the world’s top-ranked test all-rounder.
Chasing 265 to win, Australia lost five wickets in an eventful morning session, and whatever hopes they had were snuffed out when Shakib bowled Glenn Maxwell with the first delivery after the lunch break.
Pat Cummins scored an unbeaten 33 down the order to inject some drama but it was not enough in the end as Australia were all out for 244.
Pakistani legend Wasm Akram and Indian star Virender Sehwag led the tributes on Twitter to praise Bangladesh's triumph.
Very well done @BCBtigers #BANvAUS Congratulations on a brilliant test win and a hard fought one at that.
extremely happy for you !!!
— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) August 30, 2017
Resuming on 109-2, Warner batted with calculated aggression, while Smith was content to play second fiddle as they continued the good work they had started on Tuesday evening with some generous assistance from Lady Luck.
Warner survived a review before the southpaw brought up his 19th test century, a second in Asia. Then, when the opener was on 106, he pulled a Shakib delivery and the ball flew past leg-slip before the fielder could put his hands together.
Smith was on 28 when Tamim Iqbal spilled him at mid-on but Shakib (4-68) was lurking round the corner with his left-arm spin to change the complexion of the match.
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Shakib first trapped Warner leg-before for 112 and, four overs later, had Smith caught behind for 37 to pile the pressure back on Australia.
On a turning track where their frontline batsmen have struggled against Bangladesh's three-pronged spin attack, Peter Handscomb, Matthew Wade and Ashton Agar all fell in quick succession prior to lunch.
Pay to play... who team's wages match up
The top Australian players earn 20 times more than some of their Bangladeshi rivals.
AUSTRALIA
Under the new agreement, top players like Steve Smith and David Warner make at least £1.2m a year
Lower rated players like Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins pocket a salary of £600,000
BANGLADESH
Top players like Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan earn £45,000 a year
Lower rated players like Mehidy Hasan and Miraz Taijul Islam will make just £11,490 a year
Cummins hit a couple of sixes in his aggressive innings but ran out of partners after Taijul Islam trapped Josh Hazlewood leg-before.
Australia will slip one place to fifth in the test rankings even if they level the series by winning the second test in Chittagong from Monday. A second defeat would see them lose another place.
Bangaldesh are currently ranked ninth, with just Zimbabwe below them.
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