Bangladesh National Cricket Team vs Australian Men’s Cricket Team Timeline

Introduction

The cricketing history between the Bangladesh National Cricket Team vs Australian Men’s Cricket Team is a tale of contrasting legacies. On one hand, Australia boasts a dominant and decorated cricketing history with numerous World Cup titles, Test match triumphs, and a culture of aggressive, winning cricket. On the other hand, Bangladesh, a rising force in international cricket, has earned its stripes through perseverance, development, and moments of brilliance over the years. Since Bangladesh attained Test status in 2000, their meetings with Australia have been relatively sparse but not without significance. Each encounter has highlighted the chasm between an established cricketing powerhouse and a team still building its legacy — yet Bangladesh has had its moments of pride, challenging the mighty Aussies on a few memorable occasions. Let’s explore the timeline of Bangladesh vs Australia matches across formats — Test, ODI, and T20Is — and how the rivalry has evolved over time.

Timeline of Matches and Major Encounters 2000s and 2003 Cricket World Cup

The first major ODI clash between the two sides occurred during the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup in South Africa. Australia, led by Ricky Ponting, was too strong for a relatively inexperienced Bangladeshi side. The match was a one-sided affair with Australia securing a convincing win.

2005 ODI in Cardiff – Bangladesh’s Historic Win

One of the most memorable upsets in cricket history occurred during the NatWest Series in June 2005, when Bangladesh stunned Australia in an ODI at Cardiff. Batting first, Australia scored 249/5 with Damien Martyn top-scoring. In response, Bangladesh chased it down with Mohammad Ashraful’s iconic 100 (101 balls) leading the way. This remains one of Bangladesh’s biggest victories in international cricket.

2006 Test Series in Bangladesh

Australia toured Bangladesh for a 2-match Test series. Despite Bangladesh putting up a strong fight — especially in the first Test where they nearly pulled off a win — Australia won both matches. The series was a turning point for Bangladesh in Test cricket, showcasing their growing resilience.

2010s: Sporadic Encounters and Growing Competitiveness

2011 ICC Cricket World Cup

In the group stages, Australia once again dominated Bangladesh. The Tigers struggled with the bat and were outplayed by a powerful Australian side.

2017 Test Series in Bangladesh – Redemption

Bangladesh hosted Australia for a historic two-match Test series. In the first Test at Dhaka, Bangladesh stunned Australia by 20 runs, with Shakib Al Hasan scoring a half-century and taking 10 wickets in the match (5 in each innings). This was Bangladesh's first-ever Test win against Australia and a landmark moment in their cricketing history.

Australia came back strongly in the second Test in Chittagong and leveled the series 1–1. Nonetheless, Bangladesh’s win in Dhaka remains a symbolic achievement of their progress in red-ball cricket.

2020s: T20 Showdown and Bangladesh's Home Dominance

2021 T20I Series in Bangladesh

Due to COVID-19 pandemic scheduling changes, Australia agreed to a 5-match T20I series in Bangladesh in August 2021. This turned out to be a low-scoring, spin-dominated affair that exposed Australia’s vulnerability on turning tracks.

Bangladesh won the series 4–1, marking their first bilateral T20I series win against Australia. Bowlers like Mustafizur Rahman and Shakib Al Hasan proved unplayable on sluggish Mirpur pitches. This series was a statement of Bangladesh’s growing strength in T20 cricket, especially at home.

Key Players Who Shaped the Rivalry

For Bangladesh:

Shakib Al Hasan – All-round dominance in Tests and T20Is

Mohammad Ashraful – Century in the 2005 Cardiff shocker

Mustafizur Rahman – Crucial in the 2021 T20I series

For Australia:

Ricky Ponting – Dominant in early 2000s

Glenn McGrath & Shane Warne – Troubled Bangladesh in Tests

David Warner & Steve Smith – Consistent across formats

Conclusion

The timeline of matches between Bangladesh and Australia reflects the evolution of an underdog into a competitive force. What began as one-sided contests gradually turned into closely-fought battles, especially in home conditions for Bangladesh. Milestones like the 2005 Cardiff upset, the 2017 Test victory in Dhaka, and the 2021 T20I series win at home are shining beacons of Bangladesh’s journey in international cricket. While Australia still holds a dominant head-to-head record overall, Bangladesh's rise shows that the gap is narrowing. As cricket becomes more global and balanced, future matchups between these two teams promise to be even more exciting — especially with Bangladesh continuing to improve and challenge the elite.