Australia vs Bangladesh, 2nd Test: Mitchell Starc’s Exceptional Bowling Crushes Bangladesh at Mackay
In a shocking turn of events, Bangladesh, led by Najmul Hossain Shanto, was defeated heavily by Australia in the second Test at Mackay. The match began with Bangladesh batting first but quickly fell apart as Australian left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc dominated the opposition.
Starc took five wickets in just 22 deliveries, leaving Bangladesh reeling from the very start. By the seventh over, Bangladesh was reduced to 12/5 and never recovered. They lasted only 34 overs in their first innings, scoring a humiliating 64 runs. Starc’s impressive bowling figures of 10-6-12-6 set the tone for Australia’s victory.
Bangladesh’s lowest Test score, previously 43 against the West Indies in 2018, was nearly matched as they struggled to build partnerships. The only notable resistance came from a last-wicket stand between Taijul Islam and Shoriful Islam, who added 25 runs.
Starc also made history by dismissing the first batsman on the opening ball of the match—his fourth time achieving this feat in Test cricket. Previously tied with Pedro Collins, Starc now holds the unique record.
In just under four overs, Starc took five wickets, including the dismissal of Tanzid Hasan, Shanto, Mominul Haque, and Litton Das. This performance surpassed his earlier record of taking five wickets in 15 balls against the West Indies in 2025.
With this victory, Starc became the leading wicket-taker in the World Test Championship. He now has 230 wickets in 56 matches, overtaking teammate Pat Cummins (225) and spinner Nathan Lyon (225). Other top performers include Ravichandran Ashwin with 195 wickets and Jasprit Bumrah with 185.
Starc’s exceptional performance not only sealed a convincing win for Australia but also cemented his legacy as one of the most formidable bowlers in Test cricket history.