Steve Smith survived a caught behind review in the first Test against Bangladesh in Darwin on August 13 after the ECHO edge detection system showed no spike as the ball passed his bat. Smith had started walking back towards the pavilion while the review was underway, effectively admitting the edge through his body language. But the technology showed nothing. The review was struck down. Smith stayed.
He later admitted what happened. After the match, Smith confirmed the technology had worked in his favour.
“Technology saved me today.”
Steve Smith, post-day press conference, 1st Test, Darwin, August 13, 2026
The DRS review happened at over 20.4 of Australia’s first innings at Marrara Stadium. Bangladesh appealed for caught behind and immediately reviewed the not out decision given by umpire Kumar Dharmasena. The broadcast on Willow showed the ECHO edge detection display with a flat line. No spike registered. Smith was on 7 at the time, with Australia already 74 for 4. Australia uses Real-Time Snicko, which has faced repeated questions about its reliability since the Ashes.
🚨 SNICKO CONTROVERSY HITS AUSTRALIA AGAIN 🚨
Steve Smith appeared to have edged the ball, with Bangladesh immediately appealing and then taking the review. Smith had almost started walking back, while the Bangladesh fielders were already convinced that they had their man.
But… pic.twitter.com/wcE12XLPhh
— Indian cricket (@Cricketpaglu45) August 13, 2026
The post from a cricket fan account was shared during the match, describing the moment as a Snicko controversy hitting Australia again, with viewers questioning whether the technology got the call right.
This was Smith’s second life of the morning. He had already been dropped on 2 by Tanzid Hasan at third slip off Ebadot Hossain. Two reprieves before reaching double figures. What followed was the only innings of substance in Australia’s total of 198 all out, their worst score against Bangladesh in Test history and their first sub-200 total against the Asian nation.
Smith responded to both let-offs by taking control. He launched left-arm spinner Taijul Islam over the ropes in his first over and followed it through the covers. He hit seven fours and a six across 183 minutes, scoring 71 off 109 balls while every partner around him fell cheaply. No other Australian batter passed 23.
How Mahmud’s Six Wickets Dismantled Australia
Hasan Mahmud finished with career-best figures of 6 for 55 from 17 overs, becoming the first Bangladeshi bowler to take Test five-wicket hauls in Australia, India and Pakistan. He removed both openers before lunch, had Cummins and Starc caught behind before tea, and finished Smith off at 189 for 9 with a top-edged hoick to wicketkeeper Litton Das. Taskin Ahmed (2-55) and Ebadot Hossain (2-39) shared the remaining four wickets. All ten Australian wickets fell to pace bowlers without Nahid Rana and Shoriful Islam in the squad. Australia’s 198 all out was their lowest total against Bangladesh in Test history.
“Did you nick that?”
“I think so, yeah.”Watch Steve Smith’s full press conference after day one of #AUSvBAN: https://t.co/UPFVhNe5II pic.twitter.com/hzoOHz4xVR
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) August 13, 2026
Insider Read:
When a batter walks off and the technology overrules what he felt in his hands, the system is not assisting the game. Smith walking towards the pavilion during the review told you everything. He knew he had edged the ball. Bangladesh knew. The fielders were convinced. The only thing that did not register it was the ECHO system.
The margin between a low-score dismissal and a match-defining 71 was a flat line on the ECHO display. For the next 100 balls and 64 runs, Smith was the only thing between Australia and a total below 150. Smith himself acknowledged the reprieve. He did not pretend the technology was correct. He said it saved him. That kind of admission from a batter is rare, and it makes the technology’s failure harder to dismiss as a borderline call.
Bangladesh’s response removed any doubt about who owned the day. The visitors reached 96 for 1 at stumps, trailing by just 102, having enjoyed easier batting after Marrara’s early moisture was baked out. Mitchell Starc, who now holds the record for most Test wickets by a left-arm bowler with 434, had Shadman Islam (20) caught at cover off a leading edge. Nathan Lyon dropped Tanzid Hasan from a skied chance before either opener had scored off the bat, and Mominul Haque and the reprieved Tanzid settled in to close the day in command. The second Test follows at Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay from August 22.
Sources
Steve Smith, post-day press conference, 1st Test, Darwin, August 13, 2026
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