Australia vs Bangladesh 2nd Test Tips - Back Smith & Hazlewood

Jeremy Darke

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Last updated: Thu 20 Aug 2026 10:45

Jeremy Darke 1 hour ago

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Australia seeks a comeback after shock home loss to Bangladesh in Darwin.
Expect Smith to surpass 90.5 runs and Hazlewood to take 5+ wickets in Mackay.
Labuschagne's form slump continues; bet on under 72.5 runs.

Australia vs Bangladesh 2nd Test Tips

Australia vs Bangladesh, 2nd Test 2026 - Expert Prediction

Australia should produce a much better performance in Mackay, but the strongest betting angles sit in the player markets.

Australia vs Bangladesh, 2nd Test 2026 - Expert Prediction
Head to Head
Australia Form Analysis
Bangladesh Form Analysis
Australia Squad & News
Bangladesh Squad & News

Steve Smith was Australia's most reliable batter in Darwin, Josh Hazlewood took seven wickets for the match and Marnus Labuschagne's run drought remains impossible to ignore.

Smith made 71 and 44 in the opening Test and now gets another opportunity against a Bangladesh attack he handled better than any Australian batter outside Cameron Green. Back him to clear 90.5 match runs.

Hazlewood was comfortably Australia's most threatening bowler in Darwin, taking 6-89 in the first innings before adding another wicket in Bangladesh's chase. His 4.5-wicket match line looks attainable again if Bangladesh spend meaningful time at the crease.

Labuschagne remains the fade. He scored just 1 and 31 in Darwin and has now failed to pass 55 runs in each of his past seven innings across all three formats for Australia.

Steve Smith scored 71 and 44 in the opening Test, finishing with 115 runs for the match.
Josh Hazlewood took 7 wickets in Darwin, including 6-89 in Bangladesh's first innings.
Marnus Labuschagne scored just 32 runs across his two innings in the first Test.
Labuschagne has failed to score more than 55 runs in each of his past seven innings for Australia across all three formats.
Bangladesh won the opening Test by nine wickets after bowling Australia out for 198 and 284.

Head to Head

Bangladesh's nine-wicket victory in Darwin was their first Test win in Australia and only their second victory over Australia overall.

The result gives Bangladesh a 1-0 lead in the two-match series and leaves Australia needing victory in Mackay to avoid a historic home series defeat.

Australia Form Analysis

Australia were comprehensively outplayed in Darwin, scoring only 198 in the first innings before Bangladesh piled on 426. Even after Cameron Green's 104 helped Australia reach 284 in their second innings, Bangladesh needed just 57 to complete the win.

Smith was one of Australia's few consistent batters. He made 71 in the first innings and followed with 44 in the second, giving him 115 runs for the match.

Hazlewood was Australia's standout bowler despite the defeat. He took 6-89 from 28 overs in Bangladesh's first innings before removing Tanzid Hasan during the fourth-innings chase.

Bangladesh Form Analysis

Bangladesh produced one of the biggest wins in their Test history in Darwin, controlling the match after dismissing Australia for 198.

Tanzid Hasan made 101, Najmul Hossain Shanto scored 84 and Mehidy Hasan Miraz added 65 as Bangladesh built a commanding 426 and a 228-run first-innings lead.

Their bowling attack was just as impressive. Hasan Mahmud took 6-55 in Australia's first innings and finished with nine wickets for the match, while Mehidy ripped through the middle and lower order with 5-66 in Australia's second innings.

Australia Squad & News

Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster, Matthew Renshaw.

Jake Weatherald has been dropped after scoring 23 and 0 in Darwin, with Matthew Renshaw recalled to the squad.

Renshaw has an outstanding first-class record in Mackay, scoring 135 against Victoria in 2023-24 and 170 against New South Wales in 2015.

Bangladesh Squad & News

Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (vc), Soumya Sarkar, Shadman Islam, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Mominul Haque Showrab, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Amite Hasan, Jaker Ali Anik, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury, Musfik Hasan, Shoriful Islam.

Bangladesh have the option of bringing Shoriful Islam back into the XI after he passed a fitness test. Nahid Rana remains unavailable and has returned home to continue his rehabilitation from a side injury.

Verdict

Australia v Bangladesh 2nd Test

Take Steve Smith to lead again with over 90.5 runs while Josh Hazlewood will be dangerous with the ball claiming 5+ wickets. Marnus Labuschagne is still struggling and will score less than 72.5 runs for Australia

Steve Smith Over 90.5

Batter Match Runs

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Josh Hazlewood

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Labuscagne Under 72.5

Batter Match Runs

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