Steve Smith admitted he believed he had edged Ebadot Hossain and was fortunate to survive after technology overturned Bangladesh’s caught-behind appeal on the opening day of the first Test at Marrara Stadium on Thursday.
Smith was batting on seven in the 21st over when Ebadot delivered full and outside off, drawing the Australian into a tentative poke. The ball went through to wicketkeeper Litton Das and Bangladesh immediately appealed, but umpire Kumar Dharmasena was unmoved.
Bangladesh reviewed the decision, expecting the replay to confirm the edge. Smith, meanwhile, had already begun walking towards the pavilion, seemingly convinced that he had been caught.
But Real Time Snicko showed no clear spike as the ball passed the bat, and the original not-out decision was upheld.
Smith returned to the crease and made Bangladesh pay for the reprieve, eventually top-scoring for Australia with a composed 71 off 109 balls.
“I was lucky? Yeah, it seems that way. You’ve got to take it sometimes,” Smith said after the day’s play.
Asked whether he had actually nicked the ball, the former Australia captain admitted he believed he had.
“I think so, yeah,” he said.
Smith also acknowledged that he had been prepared to walk had he been given out.
“Normally, it’s pretty good. Maybe I didn’t nick it, I don’t know, but I certainly felt something. If I’d been given out, I was going to walk off. But, yeah, technology saved me today, I guess.”
The incident was Smith’s second major escape of the innings.
Earlier, on just two, he edged another delivery from Ebadot towards third slip, where Tanzid Hasan Tamim got both hands to a difficult low chance but could not hold on.
Smith made full use of both reprieves, settling into his innings as Australia struggled against Bangladesh’s disciplined pace attack. He struck seven fours and a six before Hasan Mahmud finally ended his resistance for 71.
Smith advanced down the track to a short delivery outside off and attempted an upper cut, but extra bounce caused him to miscue the shot towards the slip cordon. Litton called for the catch and completed it comfortably.
His dismissal capped a remarkable spell from Hasan, who claimed a career-best six for 55 as Bangladesh bowled Australia out for 198.
Ebadot and Taskin Ahmed claimed two wickets apiece as Bangladesh’s fast bowlers exploited a green surface with early movement and bounce.
Australia’s struggles made Smith’s contribution even more valuable, with Jake Weatherald’s 23 the next-best score in their innings.
Bangladesh then made an assured start in reply, reaching 96 for one by stumps to trail by only 102 runs. Tanzid was unbeaten on 32 and Mominul Haque on 35.
For Smith, the day could easily have ended very differently. Instead, a combination of a dropped catch and technology gave him the opportunity to produce Australia’s highest score — a reprieve he admitted he was fortunate to receive.