Taskin Ahmed backs Bangladesh to bounce back after 54-run warm-up horror in Darwin
Synopsis
Bangladesh were skittled for 54 in 22 overs by a Cricket Australia XI — with Campbell Thompson taking 8 for 25 — just days before their first Test tour of Australia since 2008. Yet Taskin Ahmed is refusing to panic, and even Travis Head is urging calm. The real story is whether Bangladesh can recover their nerve before Thursday's opener in Darwin, minus the injured Nahid Rana.
Key Takeaways
Bangladesh were bowled out for 54 in 22 overs in their second innings against a Cricket Australia XI warm-up match in Darwin .
Campbell Thompson claimed figures of 8 for 25 , inflicting an innings-and- 38-run defeat on the tourists.
Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed insisted Bangladesh remain confident and focused on the opening Test starting Thursday, 14 August .
Nahid Rana has been ruled out of the entire series with a side strain, with Taskin set to lead the pace attack.
Spinner Taijul Islam — Bangladesh's all-time leading Test wicket-taker — is a fitness doubt after a bruise kept him out of the warm-up.
This is Bangladesh's first Test tour of Australia since 2008 .
Bangladesh fast bowler Taskin Ahmed has urged his side to stay focused on the bigger picture after the tourists were dismissed for just 54 in their second innings against a Cricket Australia XI in a warm-up match at Darwin, insisting the team retains full confidence ahead of the opening Test against Australia on Thursday, 14 August.
Taskin's Message After the Collapse
'That wasn't a great feeling, losing against Cricket Australia (XI) that practice game,' Taskin told reporters at East Point beach. 'But in cricket, that happens. We are still trying to adjust to the conditions and pitches quickly. So that was a good preparation, but we lost.'
The 31-year-old remained measured in his assessment, adding: 'We are still hoping to do well in the main match.' The warm-up defeat — an innings-and-38-run loss across three days — saw Bangladesh fold in just 22 overs, with South Australian seamer Campbell Thompson claiming remarkable figures of 8 for 25.
Bangladesh's First Australia Tour Since 2008
Despite the heavy setback, Taskin pointed to the match's value as acclimatisation experience for a Bangladesh side making their first Test tour of Australia since 2008. Taskin himself has had limited exposure to Australian conditions, having featured in the 2015 ODI World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup on these shores.
The seamer sat out Bangladesh's optional training session on Monday, instead joining Australia's Alex Carey and Jake Weatherald for a press event that took the form of a fishing trip on the waters west of Darwin — the trio returning empty-handed after nearly an hour on the water.
Head Plays Down Bangladesh's Collapse
Travis Head, the newly crowned Allan Border Medallist, also dismissed the significance of the warm-up scoreline. 'I've played in some pretty poor ones over the years as well, and they're always a challenge because you've got your mind elsewhere,' Head told reporters on Monday morning.
'No disrespect to the CA XI team, but there'll be guys in that Bangladesh team that are only purely worried about Thursday and what they needed to get out of it,' he added. Head had earlier worked through a short centre-wicket session against Australia's fast bowlers at the Marrara cricket complex before moving to the nets under batting coach Michael Di Venuto.
Injury Concerns Cloud Bangladesh's Build-Up
Bangladesh's preparations have been complicated by two injury concerns. Firebrand fast bowler Nahid Rana has been ruled out of the entire series with a side strain, leaving Taskin as the undisputed leader of the pace attack. Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam — Bangladesh's all-time leading Test wicket-taker — was also kept out of the warm-up bowling attack due to a bruise, though Taskin expressed confidence that Islam would be fit to take his place in the XI for Thursday's opener.
With the series set to begin in Darwin, Bangladesh will be hoping their warm-up struggles are quickly forgotten once the first ball is bowled on Thursday.
Point of View
But context matters: Bangladesh are playing in Australia for the first time in 17 years, against conditions most of their squad have barely encountered. The real concern is not the warm-up scorecard but the injury pile-up — losing Nahid Rana before a single Test ball is bowled strips Bangladesh of genuine pace threat and hands Australia's top order an easier assignment. Taskin's leadership burden has just grown considerably heavier, and whether Taijul Islam recovers in time will likely determine how competitive Bangladesh can be in the spin-friendly phases of the match.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Bangladesh collapse for 54 in their warm-up match?
Bangladesh were bowled out for 54 in 22 overs in their second innings against a Cricket Australia XI in Darwin, largely due to outstanding bowling by South Australian seamer Campbell Thompson, who took 8 for 25. The tourists are still adjusting to Australian pitch and weather conditions ahead of their first Test tour there since 2008.
When does Bangladesh's first Test against Australia begin?
The opening Test between Bangladesh and Australia begins on Thursday, 14 August, in Darwin. It marks Bangladesh's return to Test cricket in Australia for the first time since 2008.
Is Nahid Rana fit for the Test series against Australia?
No. Nahid Rana has been ruled out of the entire Test series against Australia due to a side strain. His absence places greater responsibility on Taskin Ahmed to lead Bangladesh's pace attack.
Will Taijul Islam play in the first Test?
Taijul Islam's availability is uncertain after a bruise kept him out of the warm-up match's bowling attack. However, Taskin Ahmed expressed confidence that Islam — Bangladesh's all-time leading Test wicket-taker — would be fit for Thursday's opener.
What did Travis Head say about Bangladesh's warm-up collapse?
Australia's Travis Head played down the significance of the 54-run collapse, saying he would not read 'a hell of a lot' into the scorecard. He noted that warm-up matches are often played with Test preparations in mind, and that Bangladesh's players would be focused internally on Thursday's match rather than the warm-up result.
