Bangladesh were bowled out for just 54 on Saturday as they lost their only warm-up match ahead of their two-Test series against top-ranked Australia. They went down by an innings and 38 runs against a Cricket Australia XI in Darwin.
The hosts were led by young fast bowler Campbell Thompson, who produced a stunning spell of 8-25 from 11 overs. The Cricket Australia XI completed the win before lunch on the third and final day.
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The result will be a major concern for Bangladesh, who will face a full-strength Australia side in the same city next week. Australia’s pace attack will include Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.
Opener Tanzid Hasan was the only Bangladesh batter to score more than 10 runs, making 22.
Bangladesh scored 263 in their first innings, while the CA XI replied with 355.
“To clean it up this morning, I had a clear process, just try to use the new ball, swing it and hit the stumps,” said 22-year-old Thompson, who had played only one first-class match before this game.
“I was lucky enough to get a few wickets.”
Bangladesh’s chances in the first Test against Australia next week now look bleak after they were bowled out for just 54 in their second innings. Thompson finished with 8 for 25.
Bangladesh began the third morning two wickets down in their second innings but could not even make it to lunch. They lost their remaining eight wickets in just 17 overs.
Tanzid Hasan was again the only batter to reach double figures, scoring 22.
Thompson, a 22-year-old from South Australia with only one first-class match before this game, took the first five wickets to fall. He had already caused damage on the previous evening.
Offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli then briefly took over, adding to the six wickets he had claimed in the first innings.
Thompson soon returned to the attack. He trapped Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto lbw for a duck before finishing the match by taking the final two wickets with two balls.
“Sometimes you get lucky,” Thompson said modestly. “It fell my way today, which was nice. It’s always a good experience and opportunity to come and play up against a Test side a few days out from a series. Then to play alongside experienced Aussie guys as well, like Kurtis Patterson and Corey Rocchiccioli and stuff like that. So, just involving myself around these guys has been awesome.”
Thompson played for the Prime Minister’s XI against England last season. He then made both his one-day and Sheffield Shield debuts for South Australia.
He impressed with a sharp spell against Usman Khawaja in the Sheffield Shield before a hamstring injury ended his season.
“I think the opportunity to step out and play against the top liners in Australia, bowling to the best batters, has definitely given me some good experience heading into this year,” he said.
“Hopefully there’s more of that but just trying to take it one step at a time. Trying to just bowl as well as I can in any level while I’m playing and hopefully putting my best foot forward.”
It will have been a difficult experience for Bangladesh, who now have four days to prepare for a much tougher challenge against Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
The first Test will be Bangladesh’s first Test in Australia for 23 years.
Bangladesh had scored 263 in their first innings, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz making a century from No. 7 after the top order struggled on the opening day.
With the ball, Hasan Mahmud was Bangladesh’s best bowler, finishing with 4 for 42.