DARWIN, Australia, August 12, 2026 —
Australia Confirm XI for Bangladesh Test; Boland and Inglis Left Out
Australia playing XI vs Bangladesh has been confirmed for the opening Test in Darwin, with captain Pat Cummins selecting both Cameron Green and Beau Webster while leaving Scott Boland and Josh Inglis out of the team.
The first match of the two-Test series begins Thursday, August 13, at Marrara Stadium. It will be Darwin’s first Test match in more than two decades and forms part of the 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship.
Cummins will lead a full-strength pace attack featuring Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. Veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon also returns after a hamstring injury forced him to miss the closing stages of the Ashes series.
Australia opted for a balanced lineup containing three frontline fast bowlers, Lyon and two pace-bowling all-rounders in Green and Webster.
Green and Webster Retain Middle-Order Places
There had been uncertainty over Webster’s place because Australia was considering several possible combinations for its middle order.
Selectors ultimately retained both all-rounders, with Green scheduled to bat at No. 5. Wicketkeeper Alex Carey will follow at No. 6, while Webster is listed at No. 7.
Cummins said Australia liked the combination of Carey and Webster in the lower middle order. Carey has previously played several important innings from No. 6, giving the team confidence in the structure.
Green’s placement above Carey and Webster reflects Australia’s continuing effort to establish a settled middle-order combination.
Inglis, who can play as either a wicketkeeper or specialist batter, was not included. Carey will keep wicket and continue in the role he has held for most of Australia’s recent Test schedule.
Weatherald and Head to Open the Batting
Jake Weatherald will open the innings alongside left-hander Travis Head.
Weatherald’s selection gives the Northern Territory-born batter an opportunity to play a Test in his hometown. He and Head will be followed by Marnus Labuschagne at No. 3 and Steve Smith at No. 4.
Green, Carey and Webster complete the batting lineup before Australia’s specialist bowlers.
The opening partnership and middle-order structure will be closely watched as Australia works to establish a stable combination for a busy period of Test cricket.
Hazlewood Chosen Ahead of Boland
The most difficult selection decision involved Hazlewood and Boland. Australia chose Hazlewood, reuniting him with Cummins and Starc in the frontline pace attack.
The three senior fast bowlers will play together for the first time in more than a year.
Cummins acknowledged that Boland was unfortunate to miss selection. The captain said there was little he could tell the right-arm seamer beyond reminding him that Australia had a substantial amount of cricket ahead.
“It’s always a pretty tight call,” Cummins said in remarks published by Cricket Australia.
Cummins added that Boland understood his value to the team and was likely to receive further opportunities during Australia’s demanding upcoming schedule.
Nathan Lyon Returns From Injury
Lyon’s return ensured Australia would field a specialist spinner despite the temptation to include an additional seamer.
Cummins said the team was determined to have Lyon in the XI, leaving selectors to decide the most effective combination of fast bowlers around him.
The experienced off-spinner missed the latter part of the Ashes because of a hamstring injury. His inclusion gives Australia a proven spin option and allows Green and Webster to provide additional seam-bowling support.
The second Test of the series will be played from August 22 to 26 at Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay.
Australia Playing XI for First Bangladesh Test
- Jake Weatherald
- Travis Head
- Marnus Labuschagne
- Steve Smith
- Cameron Green
- Alex Carey (wicketkeeper)
- Beau Webster
- Mitchell Starc
- Pat Cummins (captain)
- Nathan Lyon
- Josh Hazlewood
