Bangladesh are heading to Australia for a two-match Test series in August 2026 — and it's a genuinely historic trip. This will be Bangladesh's first tour of Australia in 23 years, and the series doubles as the first winter Test cricket played on Australian soil since 2004. With World Test Championship (WTC) points on the line for both sides, there's real substance behind the occasion, not just novelty.
Series Schedule & Venue Breakdown
| Match | Venue | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Test | Darwin (Marrara Oval) | August 13–17, 2026 |
| 2nd Test | Mackay (Great Barrier Reef Arena) | August 22–26, 2026 |
Both venues are notable picks. Darwin and Mackay aren't Australia's usual Test hosts, and staging matches there during the Australian winter is itself part of what makes this series stand out on the calendar.
The tour was originally slated for March 2027 but was moved forward to 2026 after Cricket Australia had to work around fixture congestion caused by the 150th Anniversary Test against England. The series forms part of the 2025–2027 ICC World Test Championship cycle, meaning both sides have genuine incentive beyond pride and history.
Australia's Squad: Heavyweight Pace Returns
Australia have named a settled, senior-heavy squad for the series, with several key bowlers returning from injury layoffs. Captain Pat Cummins is back, alongside fellow pace stalwart Josh Hazlewood and veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon — all returning after respective injury spells. Their return pushes recent performers Michael Neser, Todd Murphy, and Brendan Doggett out of the squad picture for now.
The batting order also has a new look following Usman Khawaja's retirement, with Jake Weatherald retaining his spot in the top order. The broader squad includes the likes of Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Cameron Green, Beau Webster, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, and Scott Boland, giving Australia a blend of experience and recent form across the XI.
Notably, the return of Cummins, Hazlewood, and Lyon has reignited a familiar Australian selection debate: with a full complement of frontline quicks fit again, questions remain over how the attack balances around Scott Boland and the rest of the pace battery.
Bangladesh's Expected Core Squad
Bangladesh's official touring party had not been fully confirmed at the time of writing, but selectors are expected to draw heavily from the squad named for their recent Test fixtures. Based on that group, the likely core includes:
- Captain: Najmul Hossain Shanto
- Top Order: Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Tanzid Hasan
- Middle Order: Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Tawhid Hridoy
- Spin & Pace Attack: Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Hasan Mahmud
The History Between These Sides
Test cricket between Australia and Bangladesh has historically been lopsided — Australia have won five of the six meetings played between the two nations. That record means most realistic expectations from the Bangladesh camp will center on sessions survived and partnerships built, rather than a series win outright.
That said, it would be a mistake to write this series off as a formality. Bangladesh have shown genuine competitiveness in white-ball cricket against top-tier opposition in recent years, including one-day wins over Australia on Australian soil — evidence that when conditions and confidence align, they're capable of testing even the strongest sides.
Why This Series Matters
Beyond the on-field contest, this tour carries real symbolic weight. A 23-year gap between Bangladesh Test tours of Australia says a lot about how international cricket scheduling has historically prioritized certain fixtures over others — and this series is a small but meaningful step toward giving Bangladesh's Test program more consistent exposure against the game's traditional heavyweights.
For Australia, meanwhile, this is a chance to build depth and form ahead of a stacked home and away calendar, including a five-Test tour of India already locked in for early 2027.
What to Watch For
- Life after Khawaja: How Jake Weatherald and the rest of Australia's batting lineup adjust in the top order.
- Pace selection dilemma: With Cummins, Hazlewood, and Lyon fit, how Australia balances their attack alongside Scott Boland.
- Unfamiliar tropical conditions: Darwin and Mackay will test Bangladesh's bowlers and batters in heat and pitch conditions unique to winter northern Australia.
- World Test Championship points: Every session in this series feeds directly into the 2025–2027 WTC standings.
Want more cricket coverage? Read our analysis on India's T20I tour of Zimbabwe, and check out our full tactical guide to The Hundred 2026.