Historic Series Sweep Bid
Bangladesh bats first against Australia, seeks historic ODI series sweep after earlier wins.
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Bangladesh stand-in captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and chose to bat first in the third and final ODI against Australia on June 14, pushing for a historic 3-0 series sweep. Winnipeg Free Press reported that regular captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz is sidelined with a concussion after being struck on the head in the second match — a game he finished by hitting the winning six.
Bangladesh already made history by winning the first two games. They beat Australia by 86 runs in the opener and by five wickets via the DLS method in the second match. It was their first-ever ODI series win over Australia — and their first ODI victory over the Australians in 21 years.
Miraz Plays Through Concussion, Then Is Hospitalized
The 2nd ODI produced one of the series' most dramatic moments. Pace bowler Riley Meredith struck captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz on the head with a bouncer in the 34th over. Miraz vomited on the field but refused to leave. He went on to hit the match-winning six over fine leg to seal the series for Bangladesh.
Miraz was hospitalized the next day for observation. Scans came back clear, but doctors diagnosed him with a concussion and told him to rest. With the regular captain out, Shanto stepped up for the decider. "I would like to bat first," Shanto said before the 3rd ODI. "Looks a little bit dry. We want to finish the game on a high note."
Bangladesh's Pace Revolution Dismantles a Stunned Australia
The series exposed a major weakness in Australian batting. In the 2nd ODI, Australia collapsed to 0 for 3 in just the first two overs — the earliest any team has lost three wickets in ODI history. They recovered to 187 for 8, but it was not enough. Stand-in Australian captain Josh Inglis admitted, "Bangladesh have outplayed us so far in this series."
The key weapon was raw pace. Nahid Rana clocked 151 km/h and took 4 for 41 in the first match to tear through the Australian top order. Mustafizur Rahman won Player of the Match in the 2nd ODI for a clinical 3 for 27 spell. Bangladesh has moved away from slow, spin-friendly pitches toward a new pace-first approach, guided by bowling coach and former Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait.
Australia's 21-Year Streak Ends Against a Reshuffled Side
Before this month, Australia had beaten Bangladesh in 22 of their 23 ODI meetings. Their only loss came at the 2005 Champions Trophy in Cardiff. They had swept every bilateral series against Bangladesh — in 2003, 2006, 2008, and 2011 — all by 3-0 margins. This is also Australia's first ODI tour of Bangladesh in 15 years.
Australian media framed the losses around missing stars — Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Travis Head all sat out. Marnus Labuschagne, one of the few seniors present, scored an unbeaten 55 in the 2nd ODI. But his recent form tells a darker story: he averaged just 11.64 across his last 17 ODIs. Bangladesh rejected the "weakened side" narrative, pointing out that Australia still fielded world-class players like Adam Zampa and Alex Carey.
Series Win Carries Weight Beyond the Cricket Field
The stakes stretch well past the scoreboard. Australia entered the series ranked No. 1 in the world in ODIs. Back-to-back losses to 9th-ranked Bangladesh have put their top ranking at risk, with India and South Africa ready to move ahead. The two teams are also set to meet again in August 2026, when Bangladesh tours Australia for two Tests — their first Test tour there in 23 years.
Inside Bangladesh, the mood is euphoric. Soumya Sarkar said the series win "should have been celebrated in a bigger way because it is a major achievement." The Bangladesh Cricket Board also faces pressure off the field, with potential losses of up to $27 million if political issues block their spot in the 2026 T20 World Cup. A 3-0 sweep would give the team — and the board — a major boost heading into a critical stretch.
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