Bangladesh have completed a memorable Test tour of Australia, with a historic victory in Darwin followed by a heavy defeat in Mackay. The 1-1 series draw nevertheless underlined the progress made by Najmul Hossain Shanto’s side in the longest format.
The second Test in Mackay ended inside two days on Sunday, with Australia securing an innings-and-51-run victory. Bangladesh were dismissed for just 64 in their first innings and managed only 95 in the second. Mitchell Starc was the chief destroyer, finishing with a ten-wicket match haul as Australia dominated from the outset.
The result was a sharp contrast to the opening Test in Darwin, where Bangladesh produced one of the most significant victories in their Test history. They defeated Australia by nine wickets to record their first Test win on Australian soil. Australia had arrived as the world’s top-ranked Test side and were expected to respond strongly in the second match.
Bangladesh’s victory in Darwin was built on a disciplined bowling performance and valuable contributions with the bat. The result gave the visitors a 1-0 lead and raised expectations that they could complete a landmark series triumph. Australia, however, responded emphatically in Mackay, with Starc’s devastating opening spell putting Bangladesh under immediate pressure. He took six wickets for 12 runs in the first innings, while Australia eventually wrapped up the match without allowing the visitors a chance to recover.
The original report’s claim that Bangladesh had moved to sixth in the ICC Test rankings after the Mackay match, however, does not match the latest ranking information currently available from the ICC. The ICC’s current team page lists Bangladesh in ninth place with 73 rating points.
Bangladesh’s confirmed highest-ever Test ranking remains seventh, achieved on 20 May 2026 after they completed a 2-0 series sweep over Pakistan. At that point, Bangladesh rose from ninth to seventh with 78 rating points, surpassing their previous best of eighth.
That May achievement was particularly significant because it came after Bangladesh defeated Pakistan in both Tests. The victories moved them above Pakistan in the rankings and marked the first time Bangladesh had broken into the top seven in Test cricket.
The Australian series has since added another important chapter to Bangladesh’s red-ball development. Winning in Darwin against the No. 1-ranked side demonstrated that the team can compete with the strongest opponents away from home. The Mackay defeat, meanwhile, exposed the gap between producing a major upset and maintaining that level across consecutive Tests.
The second Test also highlighted the importance of handling pace-friendly conditions. Starc repeatedly troubled Bangladesh’s top order, while Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon also made important contributions with the ball. Bangladesh’s second-innings resistance was led by Mushfiqur Rahim, who remained unbeaten on 29, but wickets continued to fall around him.
For Bangladesh, the broader picture remains encouraging. The side have now shown that they can beat a leading Test nation in its own conditions, even though they were unable to sustain that advantage throughout the series.
The 1-1 result therefore offers both achievement and a clear lesson. Bangladesh leave Australia without a series victory, but with a historic overseas win to their name and further evidence that their Test side is capable of challenging established teams on the biggest stage.