Australia Playing XI For 1st Test vs Bangladesh Announced: Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon Returns As Scott Boland Misses Out
Australia has announced its Playing XI for the first Test against Bangladesh, with veteran quick Josh Hazlewood and off-spinner Nathan Lyon returning to the side, while Scott Boland misses out. The highly anticipated match, part of the ICC World Test Championship (2025-27 cycle), is set to begin on August 13 at the Marrara Cricket Ground in Darwin.
Darwin is set to host a significant cricketing return as Australia announces its Playing XI for the first Test against Bangladesh, marking the visitors' first Test tour Down Under in 23 years. The highly anticipated match, part of the ICC World Test Championship (2025-27 cycle), sees the seasoned duo of Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon return to the red-ball setup, with Scott Boland a notable omission from the XI.ย AUS vs BAN 2026: Litton Das Added To Bangladesh Squad, Wicketkeeper-Batter To Be Available For 2nd Test.
Australia XI
The big four are back for #AUSvBAN โค๏ธ
Squad details: https://t.co/Z18ETew3Ow pic.twitter.com/oJzgyGADpR
โ cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) August 12, 2026
Pat Cummins will lead a full-strength Australian side eager to commence a busy international schedule with a strong performance against a Bangladeshi team looking to make its mark on Australian soil.
Australia's Confirmed Playing XI
Captain Pat Cummins confirmed the team on the eve of the Test, opting for Hazlewood's experience in the pace attack alongside Mitchell Starc, reuniting the long-standing bowling quartet with Lyon. All-rounder Cameron Green retains his spot and will bat at number five, replacing the retired Usman Khawaja. Fellow all-rounder Beau Webster has also been included in the starting XI.
Australia Playing XI for 1st Test:
- Jake Weatherald
- Travis Head
- Marnus Labuschagne
- Steve Smith
- Cameron Green
- Alex Carey (wk)
- Beau Webster
- Mitchell Starc
- Pat Cummins (c)
- Nathan Lyon
- Josh Hazlewood
Key Returns and Omissions
Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, aged 35, makes his Test return after being sidelined since the West Indies tour more than 12 months ago, missing the entire Ashes summer due to hamstring and Achilles injuries. He is just five wickets shy of reaching 300 Test wickets. Veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon, aged 38, also returns after a hamstring injury cut short his Ashes campaign. Their inclusion means 37-year-old Scott Boland, who played all five Ashes Tests last summer, misses out despite his strong form in recent years.
Bangladesh, led by Najmul Hossain Shanto, will be looking to overcome a challenging start to their tour, which included a heavy defeat in a warm-up match where they were bowled out for just 54 in their second innings. The visitors are also contending with injuries, with veteran Mushfiqur Rahim ruled out due to a finger injury.
Match Details
The two-match series is a crucial part of the ICC World Test Championship (2025-27 cycle), where Australia currently holds a strong position, while Bangladesh sits fourth.ย AUS vs BAN 2026: Pacer Nahid Rana Out of Bangladesh vs Australia Test Series.
1st Test: Australia vs Bangladesh
- Dates: August 13 โ August 17, 2026
- Venue: Marrara Cricket Ground, Darwin
- Start Time: 10:00 AM ACST (Darwin local time) | 10:30 AM AEST | 8:30 AM AWST | 1:30 AM BST | 6:00 AM IST
Head-to-Head Record
Australia has historically dominated Test encounters against Bangladesh.
| Format | Matches Played | Australia Wins | Bangladesh Wins | Draws |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
Bangladesh's sole Test victory against Australia came in 2017 in Mirpur, where they won by 20 runs. With both teams vying for valuable World Test Championship points, the Darwin Test promises an intriguing contest as Australia begins its domestic Test season against a determined Bangladeshi outfit.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 12, 2026 10:10 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
