Published: 09:53 AM, 23 August 2026
Starc and Shoriful shine as pacers rule Day 1 in Mackay
A total of 18 wickets fell on Day 1 of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 contest between Australia and Bangladesh in Mackay. -Facebook
Pace bowling at its finest was on display on Day 1 in Mackay during the second Test of Bangladesh's tour of Australia.
Having lost the first of their ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 series contest in Darwin, Australia elected to field first. Mitchell Starc backed Pat Cummins' call with a ripping opening spell, accounting for his five-for in merely 22 deliveries, making him the sixth-fastest to the landmark. He eventually finished with figures of 6/12.
In the process, Starc also moved past Dale Steyn to become the 10th-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket history. Australia captain Pat Cummins also made a significant impact with three wickets, while Josh Hazlewood chipped in with one as Australia bowled Bangladesh out for just 64 in 34 overs.
Rather than being bogged down by the collapse, Bangladesh hit back strongly with Shoriful Islam leading the charge. The left-arm pacer produced a sensational spell, claiming five wickets in just 8.5 overs to register the second-fastest five-wicket haul by a Bangladesh bowler in Test cricket, behind only Taijul Islam's in 6.5 overs against West Indies in 2018.
Australia were reduced to 41/3 before Steve Smith and Cameron Green steadied the innings with a crucial 77-run partnership from 112 balls. However, Shoriful Islam eventually broke the stand by trapping Smith lbw, giving Bangladesh an important breakthrough.
Bangladesh then made further impact by claiming four wickets in the space of just 14 balls. Australia slipped to 148/8 before Green and Nathan Lyon combined for an unbeaten 17-run partnership to take the hosts to 165/8 at stumps. The hosts have a significant 101-run lead on a surface that has shown movement, and will look to further their advantage in the morning.
Shoriful stood with figures of 6/35, with a chance of getting more scalps on Day 2 of the Test.
With Australia choosing to bowl first after winning the toss, Starc needed just one delivery with the new ball to make an impact. The left-armer removed Shadman Islam with the opening ball of the match, as a leading edge flew to Cameron Green at gully.
It was the fourth time Starc had taken a wicket with the first delivery of a Test.
From there, the carnage continued.
Starc struck again in the third over, dismissing Tanzid Hasan off the first, before trapping Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto lbw off the very next ball.
Starc caused chaos off his third straight over, sending back Mominul Haque, caught by Green, as Bangladesh slipped deeper into trouble.
Litton Das became Starc's fifth victim, also trapped lbw, as Starc picked up his fifth scalp in just 22 balls of his spell, making it one of the fastest Test five-wicket hauls in history.
Remarkably, Starc also holds the record for the fastest five-wicket haul in Tests. He made the record his own by doing it off 15 deliveries against the West Indies last year.
The spell also moved Starc beyond South African great Dale Steyn on the all-time list of Test wicket-takers. Starc went past Steyn's 439 wickets to reach 440, moving outright into 10th place in the all-time Test wicket-takers list and fifth-highest among fast bowlers.
The performance comes at a crucial time for Australia, who arrived in Mackay 1-0 down after Bangladesh stunned them in the series opener in Darwin.
