Australian skipper Pat Cummins has heaped praise on the Bangladesh national team after his team’s nine-wicket defeat in the first Test of the two-match series, which concluded on Sunday, August 16, at Marrara Cricket Stadium in Darwin.
Speaking at the post-match presentation ceremony after his team’s drubbing, Cummins has insisted that Day 1 didn’t go out as planned. Notably, Bangladesh pacer Hasan Mahmud wreaked havoc with a six-wicket haul as Australia got bundled out for 198 runs in the first innings.
“Probably that day one. I thought our preparation was pretty much spot on. I thought it was excellent. So, no excuses. They played really well. I thought the day one wicket was doing a little bit early, but obviously got to try and find a way to bat a little bit longer than we did, and then, just couldn’t penetrate with the ball. But, I thought they played really well,” Pat Cummins said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
In the second innings, Bangladesh posted a whopping total of 426 runs in 138 overs. Tanzid Hasan Tamim (101) was the top scorer. In the third innings, Australia could score only 284 runs, with Cameron Green scoring a 104-run knock. In the chase, Bangladesh sealed the deal in 14.2 overs with nine wickets in hand. Pacer Hasan Mahmud was adjudged the player of the match.
“I think every time there’s a game like this, you always kind of look at your match-ups and your make-up of the team for the next one. But we only just finished, so we’ll think about it. We’re pretty good at bouncing back, so no doubt the batters and every group will get together and have a good think about this one and where we can improve,” he added.
“(On Bangladesh having played well) Yeah, they did. I think they outplayed us in all facets, really. I thought they were really patient and quite disciplined. And, yeah, once we were behind, it was really hard to get back,” he concluded.
