Bangladesh pacer Hasan Mahmud has been nominated for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award for August 2026 after a memorable tour of Australia, alongside England pacer Ollie Robinson and Sri Lanka batter Sonal Dinusha.

Kent seamer Matt Milnes was full of praise for his bowling partner Hasan Mahmud after the Bangladesh pacer continued his merry run of form on his return to county cricket.

The Bangladesh Test side touched down in Dhaka on Friday, welcomed with flowers by members of the Bangladesh Cricket Board after a memorable tour of Australia.

Although Bangladesh endured a disappointing performance in the Mackay Test, chief selector Habibul Bashar expressed overall satisfaction with their two-match series against Australia, describing the 1-1 draw as a “huge achievement” for Bangladesh cricket.

Yet Shanto insisted the Mackay defeat should not erase what Bangladesh achieved a week earlier.

Shanto hopes that more regular opportunities against top teams and in difficult conditions can help turn such breakthroughs into sustained progress.

Shanto said the challenge in Mackay exposed areas of Bangladesh's batting that need work.

The Tigers' progress in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 table has also remained intact despite the Mackay defeat.

Shoriful, returning after missing the first Test with a hamstring injury, kept the Tigers in the hunt after Mitchell Starc's 6-12 had threatened to turn the match into a one-sided contest.

The 25-year-old said the conditions remained helpful to fast bowlers, with the wind also playing a role.

Four extraordinary first days in Australian Tests in less than two years.

Australia have made only one change to their XI, with Matt Renshaw coming in for out-of-form opener Jake Weatherald.

The Tigers know a sterner test awaits in Mackay, where conditions are expected to offer more assistance to Australia.

Bangladesh have five pace bowlers available for the Test, but Shanto said the final combination would only be decided after another inspection of the Mackay surface on Saturday morning.

Matthew Renshaw was the only change, replacing Jake Weatherald at the top of the order, while Lyon retained his place for the second Test against Bangladesh at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay.

The Mackay pitch is likely to offer more pace and bounce, potentially giving Australia’s fast bowlers a much stronger platform. The open nature of the venue could also bring strong winds into play, adding another challenge for Bangladesh’s batters.

Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons has urged his players to keep their emotions in check as the Tigers prepare for the second Test against Australia in Mackay on Sunday.

Renshaw’s inclusion is not solely a reaction to Weatherald’s failure.

Rather than simply revelling in Australia’s heavy defeat, several former England greats have been left lamenting the missed opportunity of last winter’s Ashes

Bangladesh's stunning Test win in Australia was years in the making, tracing its roots to reforms introduced after a crisis period in 2019.