![AB De Villiers, Virat Kohli and Nahid Rana [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1786864425596_ABDKohliandNahidRanapic.jpg?type=hq)
AB De Villiers, Virat Kohli and Nahid Rana [Source: AFP]
As Bangladesh stamps authority at No. 4 on the WTC points table after the Australia vs Bangladesh Test match at Darwin, the hosts continue to be disheartened. Although Australia have managed to stay at the top of the WTC standings with 84 points in their bag, the Bangladesh defeat rings as a warning bell for Pat Cummins and Co.
Interestingly enough, the AUS vs BAN Test broke multiple records, and one of them is an objective one. Australia is arguably one of the finest red-ball cricket teams in the world, and at home, they are undisputed.
Australia stunned by Bangladesh in their own backyard
Yet, somehow, Najmul Hossain Shanto’s men managed to dominate the hosts at their home even without one of their best players.
To take note of, Bangladesh isn’t the only team that did that. Here’s a look at the top five teams in world cricket that beat Australia at home in Test cricket without their best player.
1. Nahid Rana (Bangladesh 2026)
Bangladesh lost Nahid Rana, a proven match-winner for the team, who has taken 38 wickets in 12 Test matches. The 23-year-old right-arm pacer made his international debut against Sri Lanka in 2024, where he clocked speeds of around 140 kph.
However, Rana suffered a major setback when he sustained a Grade 2 left-side strain during the second T20I against Zimbabwe in July. The injury immediately ruled him out of the series and also made him unavailable for the Tests against Australia, with Taskin Ahmed named as his replacement.
However, Hasan Mahmud emerged as one of Bangladesh's most effective pace bowlers in the series in place of Rana.
The 26-year-old took 13 wickets across the three innings he bowled, registering a six-wicket haul, a four-wicket haul and a three-wicket haul. His impressive performances eventually played a crucial role as Bangladesh secured a dominant nine-wicket victory in the AUS vs BAN 1st Test.
Also Read- Bangladesh’s WTC Schedule After Australia Tour
2. Virat Kohli (India 2020-21)
Virat Kohli, one of India's most iconic Test players, had to leave Australia midway through the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Kohli played only the first pink-ball Test in Adelaide before handing over the captaincy to Ajinkya Rahane, as he took paternity leave to be with his wife, Anushka Sharma, for the birth of their first child, Vamika. He flew back to India immediately after the first Test in December 2020 and was absent for the remainder of the series.
However, despite Virat Kohli's absence, Ajinkya Rahane led India to an iconic series victory against Australia on their home soil. The four-match Test series was won 2-1 by the visitors. The Adelaide Test, which Kohli played, ended in an eight-wicket defeat for India.
However, India bounced back in the second Test under Rahane's leadership, winning by eight wickets. They then drew the third Test in Sydney before securing a thrilling three-wicket victory in the fourth Test at Brisbane.
Rishabh Pant emerged as the Player of the Match after playing a valiant unbeaten knock of 89 against Australia's formidable pace attack, led by Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
3. Jofra Archer (England 2025-26)
The England cricket team avoided a whitewash against Australia in the 2025-26 Ashes, with their only victory in the series coming in the match in which Jofra Archer was absent. The Ashes, a five-match Test series, saw Archer play in the first three Tests before he suffered a left-side strain and was ruled out of the fourth Test in Melbourne.
With Archer unavailable, England managed to secure a victory on December 27 after Australia were bowled out for just 152 runs in their first innings, courtesy of a seven-wicket haul from Josh Tongue and a four-wicket haul from Brydon Carse.
England successfully chased down Australia's target, with crucial contributions with the bat from Jacob Bethell, Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley, eventually winning the match by four wickets.
4. AB de Villiers (South Africa 2016)
South Africa pulled off a dominant series victory without their then-star player, AB de Villiers. De Villiers, who was South Africa's Test captain in 2016, was ruled out of the Australia tour due to a severe left-elbow injury. His injury failed to heal in time and eventually required surgery, which he underwent in late September 2016.
With De Villiers unavailable for South Africa's three-match Test series in Australia in November 2016, Faf du Plessis took over the captaincy and led the team to a 2-1 series victory.
South Africa won the first two Tests in Perth and Hobart by convincing margins, with batters Quinton de Kock and Faf du Plessis leading the way with the bat.
Kagiso Rabada emerged as the Proteas' leading wicket-taker on Australian soil, claiming 15 wickets in the series. However, Australia won the final Test in Adelaide, with Usman Khawaja's batting heroics and Josh Hazlewood's impressive bowling helping the hosts secure a consolation victory.
5. Roston Chase (West Indies 2024)
Roston Chase, one of the crisis men of West Indies Test cricket, has been an all-round impact player for the Caribbean side in the longest format. However, he missed the Australia tour in 2024. Chase particularly decided to focus on white-ball cricket and franchise T20 leagues during that period.
Hence, although he chose to stay away from the Test setup during the West Indies tour of Australia in January-February 2024, the Caribbean side still managed to draw the two-match Test series.
The first Test in Adelaide was won by Australia by a massive 10-wicket margin. However, West Indies bounced back in the second Test at the Gabba, where they posted a valiant 311 in their first innings, with crucial contributions from Kavem Hodge and Kevin Sinclair.
Australia were bowled out for 289, before West Indies posted 193 in their second innings, with Kirk McKenzie and Justin Greaves making important contributions.
In the second innings for the hosts, Shamar Joseph's heroic seven-wicket haul put the Australian batters under immense pressure, with only Steve Smith attempting to salvage the innings with a fighting 91. Ultimately, West Indies secured a thrilling eight-run victory, with Joseph being named Player of the Match for his eight-wicket haul.
Also Read- Which Teams Are Yet To Be Beaten By Bangladesh In Test Cricket?
