Starc and Shoriful take six wickets each as 18 wickets tumble on day one in Mackay
Australia dismissed Bangladesh for 64 before reaching 165-8 at stumps on day one of the second Test in Mackay, establishing a 101-run lead as Mitchell Starc and Shoriful Islam claimed six-wicket hauls.
Morning collapse in Mackay
Australia captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bowl on a bouncy pitch in Mackay on Saturday, aiming to level the two-match series following a nine-wicket defeat in Darwin. Mitchell Starc struck with the opening ball of the match, removing Shadman Islam via a leading edge caught by Cameron Green in the gully. Starc dismissed Tanzid Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto on consecutive deliveries in his second over, reducing Bangladesh to 3-9. Beau Webster dropped a catch at third slip off Starc before Litton Das fell lbw on review, giving Starc five wickets inside 22 balls as the visitors fell to 12-5. Bangladesh went into lunch at 35-6 and were bowled out for 64 in 34 overs, with only a 25-run tenth-wicket partnership between Taijul Islam (11 not out) and Shoriful Islam (14) keeping them above their lowest Test score of 43.
- Mitchell Starc dismisses Shadman Islam with the opening delivery of the match
- Starc takes two wickets in two balls to reduce Bangladesh to 3-9
- Starc claims his fifth wicket as Bangladesh slump to 12-5
- Bangladesh reach the interval at 35-6
- Bangladesh are bowled out for 64 after a 25-run tenth-wicket stand
- Australia close on 165-8 with Cameron Green unbeaten on 51
Bowling milestones and pitch appraisal
Starc finished with bowling figures of 6-12, while Cummins took 3-25 and Josh Hazlewood dismissed Hasan Mahmud for 10. The spell was Starc's 19th five-wicket haul in Test cricket and the sixth fastest in history, trailing his own record of 15 balls set against the West Indies in Jamaica in 2025. Starc also took a wicket with the first ball of a Test for the fourth time and reached 441 career wickets, passing Dale Steyn for tenth on the all-time Test wicket-takers list. Following play, Starc addressed the conditions at the ground.
Everyone will look at it and say there is something wrong with the wicket but it was very similar to a Gabba wicket. It was still playing well.
Former Australia bowler Jason Gillespie offered praise on ABC radio.
He is getting better and better.
- Mitchell Starc
- 6 wickets
- Shoriful Islam
- 6 wickets
- Pat Cummins
- 3 wickets
- Josh Hazlewood
- 1 wickets
Australia top-order struggles
Australia's batting lineup encountered quick setbacks against Bangladesh left-arm paceman Shoriful Islam, who returned to the side after missing the Darwin match with a hamstring strain. Matt Renshaw, selected to replace Jake Weatherald, edged to first slip for eight runs. Shoriful bowled opener Travis Head for 22 and then bowled Marnus Labuschagne for four, leaving Labuschagne without a century in 43 consecutive Test innings. Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting criticized Labuschagne's batting technique on television commentary.
It has been way too long now. He can't score off the back foot. It is well and truly time to have a look at someone else.
Middle-order fightback and stumps
Steve Smith and Cameron Green halted the slide with a 77-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Shoriful broke the stand by trapping Smith lbw for 42 (reported as 44 in wire dispatches), initiating a collapse where Australia lost four wickets for 30 runs. Alex Carey was caught for five and Beau Webster fell for a first-ball duck as Shoriful concluded the day with figures of 6-35. Green, who scored a century in the second innings at Darwin, remained 51 not out alongside Nathan Lyon on 10 not out. Australia finished the 18-wicket opening day on 165-8, carrying a 101-run lead into day two.
