Fast-Bowling Masterclass Leads to 18 Wickets on Dramatic Opening Day of Second Bangladesh Test

Australia clawed out a 101-run lead over Bangladesh on a chaotic first day of the second Test, as 18 wickets tumbled following a sensational fast-bowling display by Mitchell Starc and Shoriful Islam.

Home skipper Pat Cummins won the toss in Mackay, Queensland on Saturday, unleashing his pace attack as the team looked to bounce back from a shock nine-wicket defeat in the first Test at Darwin, Northern Territory. They skittled Bangladesh for just 64, with an irrepressible Starc leading the destruction through a masterclass of swing and seam. Starc claimed five wickets in just 22 deliveries during the morning session, finishing with stellar figures of 6-12 from 10 overs. Only a defiant last-wicket partnership of 25 between Taijul Islam (11 not out) and Shoriful (14) saved Bangladesh from falling below their lowest Test score of 43, recorded against the West Indies in 2018.

In response, Australia stumbled to 165-8 by stumps, anchored by Darwin century-maker Cameron Green, who stood tall with an unbeaten 51 alongside Nathan Lyon (10). Shoriful, returning from injury after missing the first Test, was the standout performer for the visitors, claiming a career-best 6-35.

“It was just getting our lengths a bit fuller, using the bouncer a bit more and holding onto our catches,” Starc reflected. Josh Hazlewood praised his long-term bowling partner, describing his spell as “phenomenal.” He added, “He just gets on a roll sometimes. Amazing to watch.”

Australia started strongly with the bat before collapsing to lose three wickets for 19 runs. Matt Renshaw, recalled for the first time since 2023 after opener Jake Weatherald was dropped following the Darwin match, failed to justify selectors’ faith as he edged Taskin Ahmed to Tanzid Hasan at third slip for eight. Fellow opener Travis Head (22) was subsequently bowled by Shoriful, who also dismissed an under-pressure Marnus Labuschagne (four) cheaply. Steve Smith looked composed while compiling 42, but his innings was cut short by a fuller-length delivery from Shoriful that struck him on the pads. Alex Carey fell for five after holing out off Mehidy Hasan Miraz, before Shoriful struck again by trapping Beau Webster lbw for a duck and dismissing Cummins two balls later, caught by wicketkeeper Litton Das. A fired-up Shoriful then bowled Starc for one to keep Bangladesh firmly in the hunt.

“It’s what I did in practice, and I just wanted to do the same in the match,” Shoriful noted.

Australia’s dominance began with the very first ball of the day when Starc dismissed Shadman Islam, inducing a leading edge safely gathered by Green in the gully. The feat marked the fourth time the veteran left-armer has taken a wicket with the maiden ball of a Test—making him the first player to achieve this milestone—and the ninth time in the opening over. Starc quickly removed Bangladesh’s other opener, Tanzid, with the first delivery of his second over, caught at slip by Webster, before trapping captain Najmul Hossain Shanto lbw with his next ball to leave the visitors reeling at 3-9.

Although Mushfiqur Rahim safely defended the hat-trick ball, Starc struck again in his third over, dismissing Mominul Haque for nine via another thick edge caught by Green. Following a dropped chance by Webster in the slips, Litton Das fell lbw on review off Starc as the visitors collapsed to 5-12. The spell marked Starc’s 19th five-wicket haul in Tests and the sixth-fastest of all time, building on his record of five wickets in 15 balls against the West Indies in 2025.

Mushfiqur resisted for 41 deliveries before being bowled by Cummins for five. Cummins struck again after the lunch break to remove Miraz for 11 following a brilliant slip catch by Webster, while Hazlewood accounted for Hasan Mahmud (10). Bangladesh ultimately pushed past their lowest Test score through defiant tail-end hitting before Starc fittingly brought the innings to a close.