Bangladesh celebrated one of their best days in Test cricket on Friday after scoring 289 for eight against Australia on the first day of the second Test.

Top-ranked Australia, who thrashed Bangladesh by an innings and 132 runs in last week's first Test in Darwin, sent the tourists in to bat at Cairns on Friday expecting quick results from their pacemen.

Instead, Hannan Sarkar dug in for his highest Test score of 76 and Habibul Bashar, Sanwar Hossain and Khaled Mashud all reached their 40s for a country that has drawn once and lost 19 times in 20 Tests.

"We made 400 in our first Test against India (three years ago)," Sarkar told a news conference. "After that this is our greatest day in Test cricket because it's against Australia."

"I think this was my best innings so far because I played confidently."

Asked if he thought Bangladesh could win the game, Sarkar smiled and said "I can't say anything."

"We are about trying to play as well as we can. We don't talk about winning and losing," said coach Dav Whatmore. "It was very pleasing to see, I must admit."

Whatmore said after Bangladesh had made just 97 and 178 in Darwin last week, low scores would not be tolerated again.

"I think I can be forgiven for looking at that bar being raised a bit, now that there is a reasonable standard set against this sort of opposition, there'll be a high expectation generally against other opposition as well," Sri Lanka's 1996 World Cup-winning coach said.

Australia leg spinner Stuart MacGill, who took 5-77 to boosted his tally to 126 wickets in 25 Tests, said he was surprised the Cairns pitch had taken spin on the first day's play.

"I'm not really sure what happened," the 32-year-old told a news conference. "Even though it was supposed to be a quick bowlers' wicket, I sort of love a bit more pace. I'm much more at home on a wicket like this than I would be on a slow, dusty one."

MacGill said he had been impressed with Bangladesh's patience.

"They just let the ball go and were happy to do that. They were really, really commited to that plan. That's a fantastic improvement," the Australian said.

"I think this could be quite a good game now. Tomorrow and the next day are going to be pretty good batting days."