Can the ‘finest day’ turn even finer?

“This has been one of their finest days in Test cricket.”

Former Australia leg-spinner Kerry O’Keeffe’s assessment, delivered while commentating at the end of Thursday’s play in Darwin, neatly captured Bangladesh’s extraordinary opening day against Australia.

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They bowled Australia out for just 198 and finished on 96 for one, trailing by only 102 runs at Marrara Stadium. Hasan Mahmud led the charge with a career-best 6-55, while Taskin Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain claimed two wickets apiece.

It was one of the most impressive opening-day performances in Bangladesh’s Test history. But history shows they have made strong starts against Australia before – with mixed results.

When Australia first toured Bangladesh in 2006, 21-year-old Shahriar Nafees announced himself on the big stage with a superb 138 off 189 balls. Habibul Bashar and Rajin Saleh also scored fifties as Bangladesh, having elected to bat first in Fatullah, finished the opening day on 355 for five.

Bangladesh went on to take a 158-run first-innings lead and set Australia a target of 307. But Ricky Ponting’s unbeaten 118 guided the visitors to a three-wicket victory.

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Another strong opening day came in 2017, when Australia last toured Bangladesh for a Test series.

Bangladesh again opted to bat first but struggled against the Australian bowlers before Tamim Iqbal’s 71 and Shakib Al Hasan’s 84 rescued the innings. Their 155-run fourth-wicket stand helped Bangladesh post 260.

The bowlers then fought back late in the day, taking three quick wickets to reduce Australia to 18 for three.

This time, Bangladesh did not repeat the mistake of 2006. They took a narrow first-innings lead and went on to win by 20 runs, securing their maiden Test victory over Australia.

The latest effort, however, came with its own set of challenges.

The visitors were playing a Test on Australian soil for the first time in 23 years, without pace spearhead Nahid Rana due to injury. They also came into the match after being bowled out for just 54 in the second innings of their lone tour match against a Cricket Australia XI.

The challenge was even greater against an Australian batting line-up featuring Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Travis Head and Alex Carey. Yet Bangladesh’s pacers took all 10 wickets in a Test innings for only the second time in their history.

And the dominance did not end with the ball. Bangladesh negotiated an attack featuring Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon to reach 96 for one.

That makes the performance undeniably one of Bangladesh’s finest days in Test cricket. But, as history has shown, a strong start is only the beginning.

In 2006, Bangladesh’s advantage slipped away. In 2017, it became a historic victory.

Now they have another opportunity. They have put themselves in a position to do something special in Australia. Whether the ‘finest day’ gets even finer is now in their hands.