‘NO EXCUSES’ FOR AUSSIES IN BANGLADESH LOSS
AUSTRALIAN captain Steve Smith says there are no excuses after a disastrous 20-run defeat to minnows Bangladesh in a gripping first Test in Dhaka.
Set an imposing 265 to win, the visitors collapsed to be bowled out for 244 shortly after lunch yesterday, with man-of-the-match Shakib Al Hasan claiming 5-85 to finish with 10 wickets overall.
It is Bangladesh’s first Test victory over Australia.
A similar triumph in next week’s second and final Test in Chittagong would result in Australia tumbling to No.6 in the world rankings.
David Warner’s aggressive century had given Australia hope of achieving their second-highest fourth-innings chase in Asia.
But the visitors lost five wickets in the final hour before lunch and were unable to hold on in the following session despite a valiant unbeaten 33 from tailender Pat Cummins. The match unravelled for Australia during a disastrous first innings in which they fell to 4-33 on the way to 217, with Warner, Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja dismissed cheaply.
Australian skipper Smith said there was no excuse for his side failing to adjust to the conditions after making great strides earlier this year during their tour of India.
“I think we made a few errors, a few guys getting out ways they’ve got out before and not learning from their mistakes, which is really disappointing,” Smith said.
“But you’ve got to keep trying to learn and keep trying to get better in these conditions. It’s a difficult place.”
An embarrassed Australia lost to a side ranked No.9 in the world who had only won nine of 100 Tests.