DARWIN: Australia on Wednesday opted for Josh Hazlewood ahead of fellow quick Scott Boland for the first Test against Bangladesh in Darwin, while veteran spinner Nathan Lyon returned after a long-term injury.
An injured Hazlewood missed the entire home Ashes series against England in 2025-26, with warhorse Boland playing all five Tests in his place.
But despite the 37-year-old’s heroics it was not enough to keep out a fit-again Hazlewood who was reunited for the first time in more than a year with long-time pace partners Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc.
“They’re both pretty class, aren’t they?” skipper Cummins told reporters of Hazlewood and Boland in naming Australia’s team.
“We were pretty certain we wanted ‘Lyono’ in the side, so [it came down to] working out what the make-up of the quicks were.
“It’s always a pretty tight call. It’s one of those ones where there’s not much you can say to Scotty other than obviously there’s a lot of cricket coming up.”
The Test starting on Thursday is the first of two against Bangladesh and kicks off a run of potentially 21 in 12 months for the world’s top-ranked side, who have not played a red-ball game since January.
Lyon returns after hamstring surgery curtailed his part in Australia’s dominant 4-1 home Ashes win, a series where a back issue restricted Cummins to just one Test.
Under-pressure Cameron Green held his spot and will come in at five with fellow all-rounder Beau Webster also in the side at seven, split by wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
Jake Weatherald will open the batting alongside Travis Head with Marnus Labuschagne at three and Steve Smith at four.
Josh Inglis was the other player from the initial squad not to make the XI.
The clash at Marrara Oval will be only the third Test ever in tropical Darwin and the first since Sri Lanka visited in July 2004. The series moves to Harrup Park in Mackay next week, which will host its maiden Test.
LITTON FITNESS BOOST
Meanwhile, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain declared wicket-keeper Litton Das “100 percent fit” for the first Test against Australia while suggesting the tourists could play two spinners.
Experienced wicket-keeper/batsman Litton had been sidelined since June with a left calf injury and was initially ruled out of the opening Test of the two-match series.
But he was a late addition to the squad and is set to line up in Darwin in a big boost to a side that lost their only warm-up by an innings and 38 runs.
“Litton gives us batting depth,” Najmul told reporters. “He is consistent.
“We are hopeful of our batting unit doing well in the Test match.”
The series marks Bangladesh’s first Test tour of Australia in 23 years, with their last visit in 2003.
While Najmul confirmed the inclusion of Litton, he did not confirm the remainder of the starting side, wanting a last look at the wicket before deciding.
But he suggested Bangladesh could field both their frontline spinners — Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam.
“The surface looks good, I think we [might stick with our] normal combination, like two spinners and three seamers,” the skipper said.
“But looking at the conditions, tomorrow we’ll have a chance to see it again, and then we’ll decide according to the conditions.”
Bangladesh are without injured fast bowlers Nahid Rana and Shoriful Islam with Taskin Ahmed set to lead the attack. He will be supported by at least two of Ebadot Hossain, Hasan Mahmud, Syed Khaled Ahmed and Musfik Hasan.
“We’re going to really miss them, especially Rana. He’s a big threat nowadays in world cricket,” admitted Taskin.
“But still, myself and some of the other bowlers have little bit of experience. So let’s see how we do.”
Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2026