Darwin, 8 August 2026:
Campbell Thompson claimed nine wickets in the match, including eight for 25 in the second innings, as CA Cricket XI defeated Bangladesh by an innings and 38 runs in their three-day match at Marrara Cricket Ground.
The 22-year-old left-arm pacer produced a devastating spell on the final day as Bangladesh were bowled out for just 54 in its second innings.
Thompson, who has previously featured in one first-class match and two List A games, said the opportunity to play competitive cricket in Darwin ahead of the Australian domestic season had been valuable.
“It was good to get up here this time of year and get some cricket under our belts in this lovely weather in Darwin,” Thompson said. “I think that was the first positive and then it was good to clean it up this morning.
“I had a clear process, just trying to use the new ball. When I hit the seams, I was lucky enough to get a couple of wickets today, which was nice.”
Despite his eight-wicket haul, Thompson played down the significance of his individual performance.
“Not really, to be honest,” he said when asked whether he expected such a return. “Sometimes you get lucky, and it fell my way today, which was nice.”
Thompson said facing a Test side and sharing the dressing room with experienced Australian domestic players had also added to the experience.
“It’s always a good experience and opportunity to come and play against a Test side a few days out from a Test series, and then to play alongside experienced Aussie guys as well, like Curtis Patterson and Corey Rocchiccioli,” he said. “Just involving myself around these guys has been awesome.”
The pacer was also pleased with the conditions at Marrara Cricket Ground, saying the surface offered opportunities for both batters and bowlers over the three days.
“It’s a nice wicket,” Thompson said. “I think there was enough in it early on day one with the ball and then it seemed to play pretty steadily throughout the whole three days, which was nice.
“There were good runs scored out there and good wickets taken. I think they produced a good one for us this week.”
Thompson said playing in Darwin’s warmer conditions had provided an ideal opportunity during the Australian winter.
“Coming from Adelaide in the winter at the moment, it’s freezing down there,” he said. “To get up in the heat and get to play some cricket before our season is an amazing opportunity.
“It’s been awesome up here this time of year. The boys are going to have fun, I think, in the Test series over the next few weeks.”
The performance also marked a strong return for Thompson after he suffered a hamstring injury during a one-day match last season.
“I tore my hamstring in a one-day game last year,” Thompson said. “I had about a month left of the season to rehab that and then obviously all the offseason and preseason rehabbing my hamstring.
“I’ve got heaps of staff back home who have helped me get that right. It came at the right time. I got a chance to rehab it properly and have a good break, which I’m fortunate for.”
Thompson said opportunities to test himself against high-quality batters had helped his development as he looks ahead to the coming season.
“The opportunity to step out and play against the top-liners in Australia, bowling to the best batters, has definitely given me some good experience heading into this year,” he said.
“Hopefully, there’s more of that. I’m just trying to take it one step at a time, bowl as well as I can at any level I’m playing and hopefully put my best foot forward.”
Thompson said a slight adjustment in length proved important during Bangladesh’s second innings.
“I think the length we had to bowl in the second innings was probably a bit shorter than in the first innings,” he said. “It was just about dragging that back a bit, hitting the top of the stumps and having clear processes.
“I feel like I’m a bit of a new-ball bowler, so I was just trying to swing the ball. Obviously, in my first spell, I wanted to hit the stumps. Like I said before, I got lucky this time.”
Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons acknowledged his side’s disappointing batting display but said the three-day match had provided useful preparation ahead of the Test series against Australia.
“I think the three days we’ve had, working on things, have been very good,” Simmons said. “I think we let ourselves down with the bat in this practice match.
“When you look at how we got out, it wasn’t nice, but we have three days to work on what we need to do properly in the Test match.”
Simmons backed his players to respond before the opening Test.
“I trust that the guys are going to put in the work over these next three days to get us where we want to be for that Test match,” he said. “It was a disappointing match, but we move on and look forward to the Test.”
Bangladesh and Australia will now turn their attention to the two-Test series. The opening Test begins August 13 at Marrara Stadium in Darwin, while the second Test starts August 22 at Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay.
