Australia crush Bangladesh as pace trio take 18 wickets

Australia have struck back hard in Mackay, Queensland, as eighteen wickets tumbled during the opening day of their second Test against Bangladesh. The hosts secured a commanding 101-run lead by stumps, fueled by a rapid-fire performance from their left-arm bowlers who dominated with swing and seam. This aggressive approach aims to erase the sting of a humiliating nine-wicket defeat suffered earlier in Darwin.

Mitchell Starc and Shoriful Islam were the architects of this fast-bowling masterclass, each claiming six wickets as they tore through the opposition lineup. Home captain Pat Cummins won the coin toss on Saturday, setting the stage for his pacemen to feast on the pitch and regain their form immediately.

The Australian attack dismantled Bangladesh for just 64 runs. Starc was particularly lethal in the morning session, finishing with a staggering six wickets from only twelve runs conceded across ten overs. His spell of incredible swing made it nearly impossible for the visitors to score. Only a resilient last-wicket stand of 25 between Taijul Islam and Shoriful Islam managed to take Bangladesh past their lowest Test total of 43, a record set back in 2018 against the West Indies.

Shoriful, who missed the first match due to injury, became the standout hero with a career-best haul of six for 35. In reply, Australia's chase stumbled as they reached 165-8 at stumps. Cameron Green stood tall on 51, providing steady support alongside Nathan Lyon, who scored his tenth run of the innings.

"After just getting our lengths a bit fuller and using the bouncer a bit more," Starc explained regarding their success in holding onto catches while dismissing batsmen. Josh Hazlewood offered nothing but high praise for his long-term partner, describing him as phenomenal when he gets on a roll. The scene suggests Australia is ready to bounce back from a poor start, provided they can maintain this momentum into Day Two.

Amazing to watch," he said. The sentiment fit perfectly for a chaotic morning in Australia's camp. Bangladesh looked dangerous until Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc turned the day upside down.

Australia started well in reply but then lost three wickets for just 19 runs. Matt Renshaw, recalled for the first time since 2023 when opener Jake Weatherald was axed after Darwin, failed to repay selectors' faith. He went for eight after edging Taskin Ahmed to Tanzid Hasan at third slip.

Fellow opener Travis Head (22) was bowled by Shoriful before he repeated the feat with under-pressure Marnus Labuschagne (four), who was desperate for a big score. Steve Smith looked set, methodically compiling 42, but he was undone by a fuller-length Shoriful delivery that hit him on the pads.

Alex Carey (five) holed out off Mehidy Hasan Miraz before Shoriful struck again, trapping Beau Webster lbw without scoring and Cummins two balls later, caught by wicketkeeper Litton Das. Fired up, he then bowled Starc for one to keep Bangladesh in the hunt. "It's what I did in practice, and I just wanted to do the same in the match," said Shoriful.

Australia made a stunning start when Starc removed Shadman Islam with the first ball of the day, tempting a leading edge that Green did well to hold in the gully. It was the fourth time the veteran left-armer has got a wicket with the maiden ball of a Test – becoming the first player to do so – and the ninth time he has achieved the feat in the opening over.

The 36-year-old sent Bangladesh's other opener Tanzid packing with the first ball of his second over, caught at slip by Webster, then trapped captain Najmul Hossain Shanto lbw with his next delivery. It left Bangladesh reeling at 3-9. The experienced Mushfiqur Rahim fended off Starc's hat-trick ball, but he was unstoppable and grabbed a fourth wicket in his third over. This time, Mominul Haque was the victim in a similar dismissal to Shadman, undone by late swing to send a thick edge to Green on nine.

Webster dropped a sitter at slip off Starc in his fourth over, but Das's luck ran out next ball, out lbw on review as the visitors slumped to 5-12. It was the 19th five-wicket haul for Starc and the sixth fastest of all time. Starc holds the record after taking five in 15 balls against the West Indies in 2025.

Mushfiqur hung around for 41 deliveries but had no answer when Cummins came on, bowled for five. Cummins struck again after lunch to dismiss Miraz on 11, taken brilliantly by Webster in the slips, before Hazlewood took care of Hasan Mahmud (10). Bangladesh moved past their lowest Test score as the tailenders hit out, before Starc fittingly wrapped it up.