Whipping boy shines as last chance saloon emerges for several Aussies — Player Ratings

Most of Australia’s XI failed as Pat Cummins’ side kicked off a blockbuster year ahead of Test cricket with a shock loss to Bangladesh in the first Test in Darwin.

The team’s youngest member and a returning fast bowler were the shining lights with a much-needed century and an impressive six-wicket haul, but otherwise the player ratings do not make for pretty reading.

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A rusty Australian outfit will be in the gun heading into the second Test in Mackay, starting Saturday.

Australia’s much-maligned top order once again faltered and the Great Barrier Reef Arena’s Test debut may be the last chance saloon for one, or some, of the batting group.

Meanwhile, it is certainly not panic stations for Australia’s ageing bowling attack, but a few warning signs emerged in the Top End as they battled through their longest stint in the field in more than two years.

Here are foxsports.com.au’s player ratings from the first Test against Bangladesh in Darwin!

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TRAVIS HEAD — 3

22 & 17; 0/3

An unusual Test match for Australia’s Ashes hero with the bat as he chopped on off the bowling of Hasan Mahmud in both innings when he just looked like he had found his groove. The only difference was the angle - from around the wicket in the first innings and over in the second. Australia faces a situation of robbing Peter to pay Paul with Head as anytime he does not score big runs as opener, it will raise the question of whether he would be bettered suited in his old spot at No.5.

JAKE WEATHERALD — 2

23 & 0

Not the homecoming the least experienced member of Australia’s team would have hoped for. Did a lot of hard work on the first morning, but wafted at one too many outside off stump to fall on the stroke of drinks. Then chopped on for a third ball duck in a nightmare start to Australia’s second innings. Weatherald showcased a new-look technique, but his different approach of staying taller and more leg side to be better equipped for full balls targeting the stumps, created problems outside off stump. The six-Test opener may be fighting for his international career in Mackay with no other opener in the 13-man squad.

MARNUS LABUSCHAGNE — 3

1 & 31; 0/4

A huge missed opportunity in the second innings for Australia’s No.3. David Warner said on commentary that his old teammate looked the best he had for 18 months before he yorked himself against left arm spinner Taijul Islam. Labuschagne tried to flick the full delivery too square. It came partly as a result of showing greater intent after looking all at sea and getting stuck on the crease against the Bangladesh seamer in the first dig. It was certainly a step in the right direction for the Queenslander, who also is in need of some runs in the second Test with that three-year century drought still hanging over his head.

STEVE SMITH — 7

71 & 44

Comfortably Australia’s best batter in the first innings in a familiar tale where the champion batter did not have his teammates come with him. Smith played a lone hand on day one until he fell chasing quick runs with only the tailenders for company. He then would be kicking himself about his second innings dismissal. A quiet tame caught and bowled to off spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz came out of the blue when Smith appeared completely in control. On a third day pitch that was good for batting, Smith would have been livid with himself for not cashing in to pull his side out of a hole as he has done so many times throughout his storied career.

CAMERON GREEN — 9

13 & 104; 0/34

A whole lot of weight has lifted from the all-rounder’s shoulders after his fighting second innings century. He looked skiddish on day one with a frenetic knock that came to an end on the last ball before lunch. But on days three and four, Green showed the class that made him one of the hottest young properties in Australian cricket. He drove strongly when the Bangladesh bowlers over pitched, pounced on short balls and also displayed sharp footwork against spin - as he did on previous tours of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Green comfortably stands as the biggest positive to emerge from this Test match for Australia, they can surely settle him down at No.5 for the immediate future.

ALEX CAREY — 4

19 & 30; 3 catches

Tidy behind the stumps as always, but after a prolific Ashes series with the bat, Carey would be disappointed to not capitalise on two starts. He was another casualty of the dreaded chop on in the first innings and then fell caught behind to a beauty from off spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz in the second dig. The pitch began to turn on day four and Carey is one of the nation’s finest players of spin - having scored a century in Sri Lanka early last year - but in reflection he maybe went away from his natural instincts. He parked his array of sweeps and attempt to play straight, which undid him in the end.

BEAU WEBSTER — 2

12 & 5; 0/28 & 0/12

The towering Tasmanian is making an unwanted habit of getting knocked over by beauties in Test cricket. He burst onto the international scene as a man for a crisis last year, but was unable to replicate those heroics in Darwin. Seamer Taskin Ahmed crashed into his off stump in the first innings before Mehidy did the same when the ball started turning on day four. Kerry O’Keeffe suggested on commentary that the concerns about Webster’s game have always been around his defence and that was exposed. With the ball, he chipped in with handy overs on a hot second day, but was unthreatening with his medium pace on a flat surface.

PAT CUMMINS — 3

1/75

In his first Test his one-off Ashes appearance in Adelaide, the skipper had a tough outing. His decision to bat first drew criticism, but it was not the toss that cost Australia the Test match. With the ball, Cummins toiled admirably as he always done and his figures could have been better if not for his teammates dropping a few chances. Will certainly be better for the run having played just one Test previously in the last year due to back issues as Australia kicked off a marathon 20-Test year ahead where the captain will no doubt have a big workload.

MITCHELL STARC — 3

2/79 & 0/15

After dominating the Ashes series, the left arm quick did not enjoy the same success in Darwin as he did against England. Like rest of Australia’s awesome foursome, Starc did not bowl badly but lacked the penetration that was needed after a poor batting display. He may have hoped for a different red Kookaburra to be picked out of the box as the ball did not swing once any of the lacquer came off it. A flat surface also offered little seam movement and after a few post-Ashes niggles that limited his IPL campaign, Starc is another who will be better for the run.

NATHAN LYON — 1

1/102 & 0/23

Toiled away on a flat surface, but was easily shown-up by his off spinning counter part Mehidy. Bangladesh’s experienced middle order looked at ease against Lyon. His sole wicket came when Tanzid Hasan tried to slog him after bringing up his century. Lyon could have had Tanzid roughly 40 runs earlier but Steve Smith grassed a diving chance at slip. Certainly not panic stations yet for the 38-year-old but after a nasty hamstring injury in Adelaide, he looked apprehensive at times in the field and did not bowl with the same fizz and rhythm he possessed against England.

JOSH HAZLEWOOD — 9

6/89 & 1/5

An excellent return to the Test team for the first time since last July’s tour of the West Indies for Hazlewood. He reached 300 Test wickets during his first innings six-wicket haul, which included all four Bangladesh wickets to fall on the third day. Hazlewood seemed to adjust to the fuller length that was needed to challenge the Bangladesh batters better than his fellow fast bowlers. That was the cornerstone of him getting the rewards and the Australian camp will no doubt be happy to see him get through a Test match unscathed after multiple injury problems in recent years.

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