Mitchell Starc Destroys Bangladesh as Australia Dominates Day One in Mackay
MACKAY – Following a shock nine-wicket defeat in the opening Test at Darwin, Australia roared back into form on Saturday, dismantling Bangladesh for a paltry 64 runs on a chaotic opening day of the second and final Test.
Leading the charge was veteran speedster Mitchell Starc, who produced a masterclass in aggressive fast bowling. Starc decimated the Bangladeshi lineup, claiming 6/12 and securing the sixth-fastest five-wicket haul in the history of Test cricket.
An Explosive Start
Australian captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to field, a decision that paid immediate dividends. Starc set the tone with the very first ball of the match, moving the ball sharply to induce an edge from opener Shadman Islam, which was safely held by Cameron Green at gully.
This marked the fourth time in his illustrious career that Starc has taken a wicket with the first delivery of a Test innings. It also represented the ninth time he has struck in the opening over, further cementing his reputation as a formidable new-ball threat. Shadman became only the second Bangladeshi opener to be dismissed on the first ball of a Test innings, joining Hannan Sarkar in an unfortunate record books entry.
The First-Session Collapse
The carnage continued unabated as the visitors plummeted to 12/5 within the first 45 minutes of play—marking Bangladesh’s lowest-ever score after losing five wickets in a Test innings.
In his second over, Starc claimed the scalp of Tanzid Hasan, who fell for a second consecutive duck. The very next ball, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was trapped lbw. Although Shanto reviewed the decision, the "umpire’s call" verdict saw him depart without scoring. While Mominul Haque denied Starc a hat-trick, he was quickly dismissed shortly after, edging a wide delivery to Green. Litton Das followed for a duck, with the decision upheld by the TV umpire after a tense review.
Australia Tightens the Grip
Bangladesh’s middle and lower order offered minimal resistance. Veteran Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehidy Hasan Miraz attempted a brief rebuild, but captain Pat Cummins broke their resolve by bowling Mushfiqur for five. Cummins proved lethal throughout his spell, later dismissing Mehidy Hasan Miraz (11) and Taskin Ahmed (1).
Josh Hazlewood joined the party by removing Hasan Mahmud for 10. Ultimately, it was Starc who returned to provide the finishing touch, having Shoriful Islam caught behind to bring an end to the innings.
By the time the players headed in for the lunch interval, Bangladesh was reeling at 35/6. By the time the final wicket fell, the visitors were left to reflect on a total of 64—a score that leaves Australia firmly in the driver’s seat as they look to level the series.
