Litton Das given all clear for Darwin Test

Bangladesh captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto has confirmed wicketkeeper batter Litton Das is "100 percent fit" for the opening Test against Australia, handing the tourists a timely boost to their batting depth ahead of Thursday's start in Darwin.

Litton had been sidelined since June with a left calf injury and was initially left out of the squad for the two match series, only to be added late once his fitness improved.

His inclusion is a significant lift for a Bangladesh side that suffered an innings and 38 run defeat in their only warm up fixture before the Test. "Litton gives us batting depth. He is consistent. We are hopeful of our batting unit doing well in the Test match," Shanto told reporters in Darwin on August 12, 2026.

With Litton in contention to bat at number six, Bangladesh's likely middle order takes shape around Mominul Haque moving up to number three, Shanto himself shifting to four, and Mushfiqur Rahim occupying number five, giving the side seven recognised batters if the top order and Litton all feature as expected.

Shanto stopped short of confirming his full starting XI, saying he wanted a final look at the pitch before settling on the balance of the side. He indicated Bangladesh could field both frontline spinners, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam, alongside a three pronged pace attack.

"The surface looks good, I think we might stick with our normal combination, like two spinners and three seamers. But looking at the conditions, tomorrow we will have a chance to see it again, and then we will decide according to the conditions," he said.

The series marks Bangladesh's first Test tour of Australia in 23 years, their last visit having come in 2003, and they face a daunting task against a side ranked number one in the world and boosted by the return of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon from injury.

Bangladesh's pace attack, meanwhile, will be led by Taskin Ahmed in the continued absence of the injured Nahid Rana and Shoriful Islam, with support expected from at least two of Ebadot Hossain, Hasan Mahmud, Syed Khaled Ahmed and Musfik Hasan.

Taskin was candid about the scale of the gap left by Rana in particular, whose extra pace has made him one of the leading threats in world cricket over the past year.

"We are going to really miss them, especially Rana. He is a big threat nowadays in world cricket. But still, myself and some of the other bowlers have a little bit of experience, so let's see how we do," he said, adding that the tour still represented a valuable opportunity for the attack as a whole.

"It is a great opportunity for the bowlers playing in Australia. If Rana and Shoriful were here, it might be different, but still, we are hoping to do well."

The first Test begins at Marrara Stadium in Darwin on August 13, 2026, with the second and final Test to follow later in the month in Mackay.