Australia seize 101-run lead over Bangladesh after day one

Australia seized a 101-run lead over Bangladesh in the second Test as 18 wickets tumbled on the opening day in Mackay, Queensland, on Saturday. Mitchell Starc and Shoriful Islam both took six wickets in a display of outstanding fast bowling.

Captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bowl, and Australia's fast bowlers made the most of the conditions in response to their shock nine-wicket defeat in the first Test in Darwin, Northern Territory.

Australia bowled Bangladesh out for just 64, with Starc in irresistible form in a stunning spell of swing and seam bowling. He claimed five wickets in 22 balls during the morning session, finishing with figures of 6-12 from 10 overs.

Only the last-wicket pair of Taijul Islam (11 not out) and Shoriful (14) helped Bangladesh past their lowest Test total of 43, set against West Indies in 2018.

In reply, Australia stuttered to 165-8 at stumps, with Darwin hero Cameron Green standing firm on 51 alongside Nathan Lyon (10). Shoriful, who missed the first Test through injury, was the pick of the bowlers with career-best figures of 6-35.

“We just needed to bowl a bit fuller, use the bounce a bit more and take our catches,” Starc said.

Josh Hazlewood lavished praise on his long-time pace partner, calling him “remarkable”.

“Sometimes he just explodes. It’s a joy to watch,” he said.

Australia started well in their reply but then lost three wickets for 19 runs.

Matt Renshaw, recalled for the first time since 2023 after opening batsman Jake Weatherald was dropped following Darwin, failed to justify the selectors’ faith, dismissed for 8 when he edged Taskin Ahmed to Tanzid Hasan at third slip.

The other opener Travis Head (22) was removed by Shoriful before he repeated the feat with Marnus Labuschagne (4), who was desperate for a big score.

Steve Smith looked solid, accumulating 42 runs with caution, but he was dismissed by a full delivery from Shoriful that struck him on the pad.

Alex Carey (5) was caught behind off Mehidy Hasan Miraz before Shoriful struck again, trapping Beau Webster lbw for a duck and then Cummins two balls later, caught by wicketkeeper Litton Das.

In a hurry, Shoriful then dismissed Starc for 1, keeping Bangladesh in the contest.

“That’s what I’ve been doing in practice, and I just wanted to do the same in the match,” Shoriful said.

Australia made a blazing start when Starc removed Shadman Islam with the first ball of the match, the batsman edging behind and Green taking a sharp catch at gully.

It was the fourth time the veteran left-armer has taken a wicket with the first ball of a Test – becoming the first player to do so – and the ninth time he has achieved the feat in an opening over.

Starc, 36, then accounted for the other opener Tanzid with the first ball of the second over, caught by Webster at slip, before trapping captain Najmul Hossain Shanto lbw with his next delivery.

That left Bangladesh reeling at 3-9.

The experienced Mushfiqur Rahim survived Starc’s hat-trick ball, but could not hold on, and Starc claimed his fourth wicket in his third over.

This time, Mominul Haque was the victim, edging similar to Shadman, bowled late swing into the hands of Green for 9.

Webster dropped a straightforward chance at slip off Starc in the fourth over, but Das’s luck ran out on the next ball, out lbw after a review as the tourists slumped to 5-12.

It was the 19th time Starc has taken five wickets in an innings and the sixth fastest in history.

Starc holds the record for taking five wickets in 15 balls in 2025 against West Indies.

Mushfiqur hung around for 41 balls but could not hold out when Cummins came on, dismissed for 5.

Cummins struck again after lunch to remove Miraz for 11, brilliantly caught by Webster at slip, before Hazlewood accounted for Hasan Mahmud (10).

Bangladesh passed their lowest Test score as the tailenders attacked, before Starc fittingly sealed the win.