Mitchell Starc's Six-Wicket Showdown Leads to Bangladesh's Collapse in Mackay

Mitchell Starc's Six-Wicket Showdown Leads to Bangladesh's Collapse in Mackay

Australia faced a tumultuous day in the second Test against Bangladesh in Mackay, with Mitchell Starc leading the charge with a stunning six-wicket haul. The day saw a shocking total of 18 wickets fall, as the pitch at Great Barrier Reef Arena heavily favored pace bowlers. Bangladesh's left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam made a remarkable return, taking 6 for 35 off just 11 overs, marking his best-ever Test performance. Australia ended the day at 165 for 8, struggling to find stability after an abysmal first innings where they were dismissed for a mere 64 runs. Key highlights of the day include: Mitchell Starc took 6 for 12, achieving five wickets by his 22nd delivery. Cameron Green, batting at No. 5, remained not out at 51, showing resilience amid a batting collapse. Matt Renshaw, returning to the Test side, scored only 8, while Marnus Labuschagne continued to struggle with just 4 runs. Steve Smith was dismissed for 42 after an lbw review, illustrating the tough luck faced by Australia’s top order. The total of 64 runs marked the lowest by a team batting first in Australia since 1932. Starc's performance was historic, being the sixth-fastest five-wicket haul in Test history, and he now has 441 Test wickets, moving past South African legend Dale Steyn on the all-time list. Australia captain Pat Cummins also contributed with 3 for 25, demonstrating the team's bowling prowess despite batting woes. The day's events underscored Australia’s need to regroup after their previous loss to Bangladesh in Darwin.

Source: The Guardian Sport - 2026-08-22