Starc’s six-for triggers Bangladesh collapse as Australia’s batsmen struggle in Mackay
Mitchell Starc’s six-wicket burst sparked a Bangladesh collapse before Australia’s top order again faltered on day one of the second Test in Mackay on Saturday.
Bangladesh were dismissed for 64 off 34 overs at the Great Barrier Reef Arena, with the day producing 18 wickets on a surface that assisted the pace bowlers; Bangladesh left-arm quick Shoriful Islam, back from a side strain that kept him out of the first Test, collected 6 for 35 off 11 overs in his best-ever return in an innings.
Starc finished with 6 for 12 after taking five wickets by his 22nd delivery, including a wicket with the first ball of a Test match for a record-breaking fourth time; his five-wicket haul was the sixth-fastest in Test history, seven balls short of his own record of 15 deliveries against West Indies in Kingston last year, and took his Test wicket tally to 441, moving him to 10th on the all-time list and two ahead of Dale Steyn.
Bangladesh’s top order folded quickly: opener Shadman Islam edged to Cameron Green at gully, Tanzid Hasan’s loose swipe presented Beau Webster at third slip, and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was given lbw as the first three batters fell for ducks; Mominul Haque (nine) then edged to Green, leaving Starc on 4 for 4 off three overs before a dropped sitter off Litton Das was followed by a successful review that gave Starc his fifth wicket.
Australia’s reply offered few reassuring signs for the selectors: recalled opener Matt Renshaw, opening the innings in his first Test since 2023, edged to slip for eight, and Marnus Labuschagne made four before a delivery missed his bat, struck his thigh pad and rebounded on to the stumps; Travis Head was out for 22, having chopped on for the third time in a row in this series.
Shoriful continued his impact with the ball in Australia’s innings, claiming two wickets in his first over and later trapping Steve Smith lbw for 42 with one he reviewed; he also had Beau Webster and Pat Cummins dismissed for ducks and removed Mitchell Starc for one in a devastating burst, while Cummins finished with 3 for 25 after winning the toss and inserting the visitors.
Australia were 165 for 8 at stumps, with in-form No 5 Cameron Green unbeaten on 51 after his 104 in the first Test in Darwin, and Alex Carey and Cummins — who had spoken before the Test about their determination to atone for the nine-wicket loss to Bangladesh in Darwin — succeeded with the ball but saw their side again stumble with the bat.