Bangladesh collapse for 54 as CA XI win by innings and 38 runs in Darwin
Synopsis
Bangladesh were bowled out for 54 in 17 overs — before lunch on day three — as Campbell Thompson's 8 for 25 completed a humiliating innings defeat against a Cricket Australia XI. With the opening Test just days away, Phil Simmons has a batting crisis and a key spinner's fitness to manage simultaneously.
Key Takeaways
Bangladesh lost to a Cricket Australia XI by an innings and 38 runs in Darwin on 8 August .
Campbell Thompson took 8 for 25 to dismiss Bangladesh for just 54 in their second innings.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz scored an unbeaten 109 in the first innings, but Bangladesh's total of 263 was not enough against CA XI's 355 .
Sam Wyllie top-scored for CA XI with 130 .
Spinner Taijul Islam is being monitored for a bone contusion on his left index finger; physio Bayjedul Islam Khan is optimistic about his availability.
The opening Test against Australia begins on 13 August — Bangladesh's first Test in Australia in 23 years .
Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons conceded that his side's batting was a severe let-down after they were crushed by an innings and 38 runs against a Cricket Australia XI in their final warm-up fixture at Darwin on 8 August, ahead of their first Test series in Australia in 23 years.
The Collapse That Defined the Match
Forced to follow on after conceding a first-innings deficit, Bangladesh were bowled out for a paltry 54 in their second innings in just 17 overs — and before lunch on the third day. Left-arm pacer Campbell Thompson was the chief destroyer, returning stunning figures of 8 for 25 to seal a dominant victory for the home side. Tanzid Hasan's 22 was the highest score in a capitulation that offered little resistance.
First Innings Offered False Hope
Bangladesh had posted a creditable 263 in their first innings, anchored by an unbeaten 109 from Mehidy Hasan Miraz. However, the CA XI responded emphatically with 355, with Sam Wyllie stroking a commanding 130 and useful contributions from Doran and Kurtis Patterson. Bangladesh began their second innings with two wickets already down, and the fragile top order never recovered.
What Simmons Said
Simmons did not shy away from the criticism, acknowledging the batting display fell well short of expectations. 'I think we let ourselves down with the bat in this practice match, and you look at how we got out, and it wasn't nice,' he said after the game. He added: 'I trust that the guys are going to put in the work over these next three days to get us where we want to be for that Test match. It was a disappointing match, but we move on, and we look forward to the Test match.'
Taijul Islam Injury Update
Bangladesh are also monitoring key spinner Taijul Islam, who sustained a bone contusion on the index finger of his left hand while batting on the opening day of the warm-up. The injury prevented him from bowling during the CA XI's first innings. However, team physio Bayjedul Islam Khan struck an optimistic note: 'The injury is better; both the pain and the swelling have come down. We have four days to go for the first Test, so I am optimistic that Taijul will be totally available for it.'
What Comes Next
Bangladesh have three days to regroup before the opening Test begins on 13 August — a fixture that marks the country's first Test appearance on Australian soil in over two decades. The batting frailties exposed in Darwin will be under sharp scrutiny when they face a full-strength Australia attack.
Point of View
And Darwin's pitch merely confirmed what opponents have long exploited. Simmons' measured words about 'trusting the guys' ring hollow without a clear plan to address a top order that was two wickets down before the second innings even began. With Taijul Islam's fitness uncertain, Bangladesh could walk into the first Test in 23 years on Australian soil without their primary spinner and with a batting unit that has shown no appetite for a fight. The next three days are not preparation — they are damage control.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Bangladesh lose to the Cricket Australia XI in Darwin?
Bangladesh collapsed to 54 in their second innings after being forced to follow on, with left-arm pacer Campbell Thompson taking 8 for 25. Despite Mehidy Hasan Miraz's unbeaten 109 in the first innings, Bangladesh's total of 263 was overhauled by CA XI's 355, and the second-innings batting failure sealed an innings-and-38-run defeat.
What did Phil Simmons say after the loss?
Coach Phil Simmons acknowledged the batting let the team down, saying 'we let ourselves down with the bat in this practice match, and you look at how we got out, and it wasn't nice.' He added that the team has three days to prepare properly for the Test match and expressed trust in the players to put in the work.
Is Taijul Islam fit for the first Test against Australia?
Taijul Islam suffered a bone contusion on the index finger of his left hand during the warm-up match and was unable to bowl in the CA XI's first innings. Team physio Bayjedul Islam Khan said the pain and swelling have reduced and expressed optimism that Taijul will be fully available for the first Test on 13 August.
When is Bangladesh's first Test against Australia and why is it significant?
The opening Test begins on 13 August in Australia. It will be Bangladesh's first Test on Australian soil in 23 years , making it a landmark fixture for the team despite the difficult build-up.
Who were the standout performers for the Cricket Australia XI?
Left-arm pacer Campbell Thompson was the star with figures of 8 for 25 in Bangladesh's second innings. Sam Wyllie contributed a commanding 130 with the bat, with Doran and Kurtis Patterson also making useful contributions to CA XI's first-innings total of 355.
