Mackay, 22 August 2026:
Mitchell Starc and Shoriful Islam produced six-wicket hauls on a remarkable opening day of the second Test as 18 wickets fell and Australia reached 165-8 at stumps on Saturday, leading Bangladesh by 101 runs.
Starc took 6-12 from 10 overs as Bangladesh were dismissed for just 64 after Australia won the toss and elected to bowl at Great Barrier Reef Arena.
Shoriful then led Bangladesh’s fightback with a career-best 6-35, his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket, as Australia struggled despite establishing a sizeable first-innings advantage.
Cameron Green was unbeaten on 51 at stumps alongside Nathan Lyon on 10.
Bangladesh’s innings unraveled almost immediately against Starc. Shadman Islam fell to the first ball of the match and Bangladesh slumped to 12-5 inside seven overs.
Starc accounted for Shadman, Tanzid Hasan, Mominul Haque, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and Litton Das before later dismissing Shoriful to complete his 19th five-wicket haul in Tests and finish with six.
Pat Cummins took 3-25 as Bangladesh’s resistance remained limited. Shoriful’s 14 was the highest score of an innings in which no Bangladesh batter reached 15.
Australia also found batting difficult.
Matt Renshaw departed for eight before Shoriful removed Travis Head for 22 and Marnus Labuschagne for four, leaving Australia 41-3.
Steve Smith and Green steadied the innings with a 77-run fourth-wicket partnership before Shoriful trapped Smith lbw for 42.
Australia reached 145-4 but Bangladesh struck back dramatically late in the day. Alex Carey fell for five before Shoriful removed Beau Webster and Cummins for ducks and bowled Starc for one to complete his six-wicket haul.
Green remained firm amid the collapse, reaching his half-century from 80 balls with eight boundaries.
Despite Shoriful’s intervention, Australia will begin Day 2 with a 101-run advantage and two first-innings wickets remaining.
Scores in brief:
Australia lead by 101 runs
Bangladesh 64 all out, 34 overs (Shoriful Islam 14; Mitchell Starc 6-12, Pat Cummins 3-25)
Australia 165-8, 40 overs (Cameron Green 51 not out, Steve Smith 42; Shoriful Islam 6-35)
