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Unbelievable scenes at Darwin. Australia dropped two catches in a single over against Bangladesh in the ongoing Test match. Steve Smith, probably the best fielder of the team, dropped the easiest of chances in the outfield. In the same over, Travis Head, another fielder with a pair of safe arms, dropped a catch. However, it was not among the easiest chances.
The ongoing Australia vs Bangladesh Test match at the Marrara Stadium has so far presented cricket fans with one surprising moment after another. From the Australian cricket team's batting collapse to the Bangladesh cricket team's fantastic batting, and now two dropped catches in a single over, so far nothing has gone in favour of the hosts.
Back-to-back dropped catches put Australia under pressure
Bangladesh scored 426 runs in their first innings. The total could have been lower, probably slightly over four hundred, if Steve Smith and Travis Head could have taken those catches.
"Takes it on again, and that man will settle underneath, and it is low down! My goodness me, Steve Smith of all the people. Unbelievable, what would have been the world record of test catches in Test Match Cricket," the commentator probably couldn't believe his eyes at what just happened when Steve Smith dropped the catch. It was a dolly for any fielder in the park. However, it's all part of the game.
It's very, very un-Australian: Alyssa Healy
While Smith dropped the tailender Taskin Ahmed, Travis Head dropped the well-set batter Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Australia needed only a couple of wickets before lunch to wrap up Bangladesh's innings. The hook from Miraz's blade off Cameron Green for a maximum proved which side was dominating in the morning session.
Head made a good amount of ground and threw his body in front to take a stunning catch. The fielder put in all the effort, but the execution was not on point. For the second time in the over, Pat Cummins turned his back and went for the following delivery with a grim face.
"It's very, very un-Australian, isn't it?" said Alyssa Healy in the Fox Cricket commentary box.
"We've seen catches go down. We've seen us out in the field for 128 overs. A lot of talking points that I think Australia seemingly have brought upon themselves."
Watch the catch drops here
You wouldn't believe it! Two dropped catches for Australia in one over 😬 #AUSvBAN pic.twitter.com/MZgnDTfQAH
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) August 15, 2026
Pat Cummins used 8 different bowlers against Bangladesh in the first innings
The pair of Taskin and Miraz ended after adding valuable 46 runs together on the scoreboard. Pat Cummins went fuller, shorter, pace variations, every possible thing he could do with the ball in hand, but nothing worked in the end. Both of the batters managed to escape the narrow passage to prolong Australia's wait, testing their patience in the longest format of the game.
Cummins returned with only 1 wicket at the end of the innings. Josh Hazlewood was the most successful bowler of the hosts in the first innings, taking 6 wickets. Cummins, the skipper, brought eight different bowlers to outwit the touring batters.
