Thompson's 8-25 destroys Bangladesh for 54 in Darwin warm-up
Synopsis
A 22-year-old with one prior first-class match to his name just dismantled a Test-bound Bangladesh side for 54 in Darwin. Campbell Thompson's 8 for 25 is the most alarming pre-series signal Bangladesh could have received — and Australia's Starc, Cummins, and Hazlewood haven't even bowled yet.
Key Takeaways
Campbell Thompson claimed 8 for 25 to bowl Bangladesh out for 54 in their second innings in Darwin on 8 August .
The Cricket Australia XI won by an innings and 38 runs in the three-day warm-up match.
Thompson, 22 , had played just one first-class match before this game.
Corey Rocchiccioli took 6 for 83 in Bangladesh's first innings to complement Thompson's second-innings burst.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz's unbeaten 109 was the lone highlight for Bangladesh, who made 263 in their first innings.
Bangladesh face Australia in the first Test in four days — their first Test tour of Australia in 23 years .
Campbell Thompson delivered a stunning 8 for 25 to bundle out Bangladesh for just 54 in their second innings on Saturday, 8 August, handing the Cricket Australia XI an innings-and-38-run victory in a three-day warm-up match in Darwin. The collapse — spread across a mere 22 overs — dealt Bangladesh a sharp blow just four days before the first Test of their first tour of Australia in 23 years.
Thompson's Demolition Job
Thompson, a 22-year-old left-arm pacer from South Australia with just one prior first-class appearance, began his assault late on Day 2 and returned on the third morning to complete one of the most remarkable warm-up performances in recent memory. He dismissed Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto for a duck via an lbw decision, then wrapped up the innings with two wickets off successive deliveries. Only Tanzid Hasan, who scored 22, managed to cross the 10-run mark for Bangladesh in the second innings.
Off-spinner Corey Rocchiccioli briefly interrupted Thompson's sequence by claiming a wicket, adding to the 6 for 83 he had taken in Bangladesh's first innings. Between them, the two bowlers accounted for all but one Bangladesh wicket across both innings.
CA XI's First-Innings Foundation
The Cricket Australia XI had set the tone by posting 355 in their first innings. Opener Sam Wyllie led the charge with a composed 130, while Doran chipped in with 76 and Kurtis Patterson contributed 53. Bangladesh's most effective bowler was Hasan Mahmud, who finished with 4 for 42.
Bangladesh's Batting Struggles
In their first innings, Bangladesh managed 263, a total built almost entirely on an unbeaten 109 from Mehidy Hasan Miraz. The top order had faltered badly before Mehidy steadied the ship. The 92-run first-innings deficit left Bangladesh needing a strong second-innings response — one that never materialised as they were dismissed before lunch on Day 3.
Notably, this is not the first time Bangladesh's batting has crumbled under seam-friendly conditions on overseas tours. Their second-innings total of 54 is among their lowest in any format of cricket outside the subcontinent.
What It Means Ahead of the Test Series
Bangladesh now have four days to regroup before the first Test against Australia. The series marks their return to Australian soil after a 23-year absence from Test cricket in the country. They are set to face a formidable pace attack comprising Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood — a considerably more dangerous proposition than the CA XI they faced in Darwin.
Thompson, for his part, was measured in his post-match assessment. 'Sometimes you get lucky. 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,' he said after the match.
Whether Bangladesh can find answers to disciplined seam bowling before the first Test begins remains the central question of their Australian campaign.
Brief Scores: Cricket Australia XI 355 (Wyllie 130, Doran 76, Patterson 53; Mahmud 4-42) beat Bangladesh 263 (Mehidy 109*; Rocchiccioli 6-83) and 54 all out in 22 overs (Thompson 8-25) by an innings and 38 runs.
Point of View
And Darwin's conditions, while not as extreme as Perth or Brisbane, were enough to expose it completely. The fact that Thompson had played one first-class game before this match makes the performance more alarming for Bangladesh, not less: if a near-debutant can find this much movement and discipline, Cummins and Hazlewood will find considerably more. Bangladesh's only credible batting performance across the entire warm-up was Mehidy's century — a lower-order innings that papered over a structural problem at the top. Unless the openers find form and technique in four days, the Test series could be over before it truly begins.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Bangladesh vs CA XI warm-up match in Darwin?
The Cricket Australia XI beat Bangladesh by an innings and 38 runs in a three-day warm-up in Darwin on 8 August. Bangladesh were bowled out for 54 in their second innings, with left-arm pacer Campbell Thompson taking 8 for 25 to seal the result before lunch on Day 3.
Who is Campbell Thompson and why is his performance significant?
Campbell Thompson is a 22-year-old left-arm pacer from South Australia who had played just one first-class match before this warm-up game. His 8 for 25 is a remarkable return for a near-debutant against a Test-level side, raising serious concerns about Bangladesh's batting ahead of the Australia Test series.
How did Bangladesh bat in the warm-up match?
Bangladesh made 263 in their first innings, largely thanks to an unbeaten 109 from Mehidy Hasan Miraz. In the second innings, they collapsed to 54 all out in 22 overs, with only Tanzid Hasan (22) reaching double figures.
When is the first Test between Australia and Bangladesh?
The first Test is scheduled to begin four days after the warm-up concluded on 8 August. The series is Bangladesh's first Test tour of Australia in 23 years.
Who are the key Australian bowlers Bangladesh will face in the Test series?
Bangladesh are set to face Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood — Australia's frontline pace attack — in the Test series, a significantly more challenging bowling unit than the CA XI side that dismissed them for 54 in Darwin.
