‘We were outplayed’: Smith gives Bangladesh full credit
Australia batter Steve Smith offered no excuses for his side’s nine-wicket defeat to Bangladesh in Darwin, admitting the hosts were simply “outplayed” across the four-day Test.
“Pretty simple: we were outplayed,” Smith said after Australia suffered their first Test defeat of the series. “I thought Bangladesh bowled really well the first morning, really disciplined. Our batters probably weren't disciplined enough.”
Bangladesh seized control from the opening day, bowling Australia out for 198 before piling up 426 to take a 228-run first-innings lead. Smith felt the visitors’ batting effort was the decisive difference.
“They got too many in front, and we weren't able to catch it up yesterday on what was a pretty decent wicket to bat on,” he said.
Australia were 161 for four at the end of the third day and briefly threatened to make a contest of the Test through Cameron Green, who scored 104. But Bangladesh dismissed the hosts for 284, leaving themselves only 57 to win.
“Couple of us got starts and didn't go on with it,” Smith said. “Greeny, I thought, played really nicely to get a hundred, but he didn't have any partners to go with him.”
Smith himself made 44 in Australia’s second innings before being dismissed by Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who finished with a five-wicket haul.
The former Australia captain believed his side needed a substantially bigger second-innings total to put Bangladesh under pressure.
“We needed probably 200 at least plus to be in the game there,” he said.
Bangladesh completed the chase in just 14.2 overs, securing their first-ever Test victory on Australian soil.
Despite the emphatic defeat, Smith was reluctant to read too much into one poor result for a side that remains the world's top-ranked Test team.
“I hope it's one bad week,” he said. “We're the number one team for a reason. We've played really good, consistent cricket over a long period of time, and this week was a bit of a blip.”
Smith nevertheless stressed that Bangladesh deserved full credit for their performance.
“We could have done things a lot better,” he said. “But credit goes to them for the way they played throughout these last four days."
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