Australia vs Bangladesh Test Tips, Prediction & Best Bets: Cummins Primed for Big Return

Jeremy Darke

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Last updated: Mon 10 Aug 2026 10:38

Jeremy Darke 1 hour ago

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Australia strong favorites with a full-strength squad and top Test form.
Steve Smith eyes century vs Bangladesh; Cummins tipped to be top bowler.
Bangladesh struggling with key absentees and poor warm-up performance.

Australia vs Bangladesh Test Tips, Prediction & Best Bets

Australia vs Bangladesh, 1st Test 2026 - Expert Prediction

Australia should make light work of Bangladesh in Darwin. The value is in the Australian props, with Travis Head and Jake Weatherald backed to establish their opening partnership, Steve Smith chasing the one WTC opponent missing from his century list and Pat Cummins returning to lead a full-strength attack.

Australia vs Bangladesh, 1st Test 2026 - Expert Prediction
Head to Head
Australia Form Analysis
Bangladesh Form Analysis
Australia Squad
Bangladesh Squad

Australia have won five of their six Tests against Bangladesh and enter this series on top of the World Test Championship standings with seven wins from eight matches. Bangladesh were also bowled out for just 54 against the Cricket Australia XI in their Darwin warm-up.

Head and Weatherald are set to continue together at the top following Usman Khawaja's retirement. With Australia committed to the combination, over 34.5 runs for the opening partnership is the first play.

Smith has never scored a Test century against Bangladesh, the only WTC opponent missing from his collection. This is the perfect opportunity to complete the set against a depleted Bangladesh attack missing Nahid Rana and Shoriful Islam.

Cummins returns healthy after Australia's extended break from Test cricket and immediately takes charge of an attack that has averaged 20.75 runs per wicket across the past two years. Back the Australian captain to finish as the top match bowler.

Take Australia to win. Australia opening partnership over 34.5 runs. Steve Smith to score a century and Pat Cummins top match bowler are the side bets.

Australia have won five of their six Tests against Bangladesh, with their only defeat coming by 20 runs in Mirpur in 2017.
Australia sit top of the World Test Championship standings with seven wins and one loss for a points percentage of 87.50.
Australia's pace attack has averaged 20.75 runs per wicket across the past two years of Test cricket, second only to South Africa at 20.16.
Bangladesh were dismissed for 54 in their second innings against the Cricket Australia XI in their Darwin warm-up and lost by an innings and 38 runs.

Head to Head

Australia have won five of their six Tests against Bangladesh, with the Tigers' only victory coming by 20 runs in Mirpur in 2017.

Darwin also holds positive history for Australia in this matchup. Bangladesh played one of the venue's only two previous Tests in 2003, with Australia winning by an innings and 132 runs.

Australia Form Analysis

Australia return to Test cricket for the first time since completing a 4-1 Ashes series victory over England at the start of the year. Their past 10 Tests have produced eight victories and only two defeats.

The biggest change comes at the top following Khawaja's retirement. Head is expected to retain the opening position after his successful Ashes campaign, partnering Weatherald as Australia looks to establish a long-term combination.

Australia also welcome Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon back into a full-strength squad. Cummins returns as captain, while Hazlewood sits five wickets short of becoming the ninth Australian to reach 300 Test wickets.

Bangladesh Form Analysis

Bangladesh arrive with four wins from their past six Tests but face an enormous jump in difficulty against Australia's full-strength attack.

They defeated Pakistan 2-0 at home in May, winning by 104 runs and 78 runs, after previously sweeping Ireland 2-0. That four-Test winning streak ended emphatically when Zimbabwe defeated them by an innings and 85 runs in Harare.

Their preparation in Darwin was even more concerning. Bangladesh lost their warm-up against the Cricket Australia XI by an innings and 38 runs after collapsing to 54 in the second innings.

The Tigers do have quality through the middle order. Litton Das has scored six Test centuries across the past five years and averages 41.70 during that period, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz has taken 55 Test wickets across the past two years and averages 31.7 with the bat.

Australia Squad

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

Bangladesh Squad

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.

Verdict

Australia v Bangladesh

Chase the props here. Head and Weatherald to partner for over 34.5 runs, Smith 100+ runs and Pat Cummins as the best bowler in the match.

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