Mitchell Starc rips through Bangladesh as Australia win second Test in two days in Mackay

Mitchell Starc ripped through Bangladesh as Australia secured an innings-and-51-runs victory in the second Test at Mackay on 23 August 2026, finishing the match inside two days.

Australia made 210 in their only innings before bowling Bangladesh out for 64 and 95; the result was an innings victory by 51 runs and left the two-Test series level at 1-1 after Bangladesh’s nine-wicket win in Darwin in the first Test. The match was one of three Tests in Australia to finish inside two days in the last seven matches, with Australian bowlers dominating their opposite numbers.

Starc produced match figures of 10 wickets, taking 6-12 on day one and 4-39 on Sunday to record a 10-wicket haul for the fourth time in his career. Australia’s 210 in their only innings was the fourth-lowest total in Test history to secure an innings win.

In Bangladesh’s second innings Starc struck in his second over, removing opener Shadman Islam (one) and Mominul Haque with successive deliveries to reach a hat-trick opportunity for the second time in the contest. Tanzid Hasan (nine) then skied a Pat Cummins delivery to Starc at fine leg, and Najmul Hossain Shanto (31) fell to Nathan Lyon with Starc taking the catch at long off.

Starc also accounted for Litton Das, who recorded his second duck of the match, as the Australian attack repeatedly broke through the Bangladesh top order. After the interval Nathan Lyon took two wickets in three balls, leaving Mushfiqur Rahim 29 not out and Bangladesh all out for 95.

Bangladesh pace bowler Shoriful Islam returned 7-48, his career-best innings figures and the best away figures ever for a Bangladesh bowler, surpassing Taijul Islam’s 7-138 in Harare in June; Shoriful had missed the first Test with a side strain and is noted in the report as a 25-year-old, 190cm paceman. Australia’s lower order resumed on day two at 8-165, and Cameron Green and Lyon added 38 for the ninth wicket, with Lyon making a cameo of 32.

Cameron Green was ninth out for 67 when an inswinging delivery hit him on the toe in front; the ball was described in the report as ‘‘unplayable’’ and likened to one Pakistan great Wasim Akram would have approved of. His innings will leave him on a series aggregate of 184, the best of either side, which the report said would ‘‘certainly secure his spot on the plane to South Africa for the three-Test series in October.’'