Bangladesh Collapses for 54 in Test Warm-up as Young Thompson Dominates

Bangladesh suffered a devastating defeat in their warm-up match against a Cricket Australia XI in Darwin, collapsing to 54 in their second innings. Left-arm quick Campbell Thompson took 8 for 25 in a standout performance ahead of the first Test against Australia.

Bangladesh's Test tour of Australia got off to a concerning start on Tuesday when they were dismissed for just 54 runs in their second innings during a warm-up match against a Cricket Australia XI in Darwin. The defeat came by an innings and 38 runs, leaving the visiting team with significant concerns ahead of their first Test against Australia, which takes place next week.

The collapse occurred on the third morning of the match, with Bangladesh unable to extend play beyond lunch after already losing two wickets overnight. Opener Tanzid Hasan provided the only resistance with 22 runs, while captain Najmul Hossain Shanto fell for a duck as the innings unraveled in just 22 overs. The CA XI had posted 355 in their first innings, with contributions from Teague Wyllie (130) and Jake Doran (76), while Bangladesh managed 263 in their opening effort largely through a century from Mehidy Hasan Miraz at number seven.

The standout performance came from Campbell Thompson, a 22-year-old left-arm fast bowler from South Australia making only his second first-class appearance. Thompson claimed 8 for 25 across both innings, taking five wickets in the second innings including the final two in consecutive balls. Offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli contributed additional pressure, having claimed 6 for 83 in Bangladesh's first innings. Thompson described his performance modestly, noting that the opportunity to face a Test side days before an international series provided valuable experience.

Bangladesh now have four days to prepare for the rigours of facing Australia's premier pace attack, which includes Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood. The first Test will mark their return to Australia for a Test series in 23 years, making the warm-up result a worrying indicator of the challenges ahead.