STARC TAKES 6-12 AS BANGLADESH BOWLED OUT FOR 64 IN MACKAY TEST

Mitchell Starc took six wickets for 12 runs as Australia bowled Bangladesh out for 64 on the opening day of the second Test in Mackay. Starc dismissed Shadman Islam with the first ball of the match and claimed five wickets from his first 22 deliveries. Captain Pat Cummins added three for 25 as Bangladesh, who batted first, reached 34 overs before being dismissed. Eighteen wickets fell across the day on a surface that assisted pace bowlers.

Australia's batting proved similarly brittle despite their bowling dominance. The hosts closed on 165 for 8, leading by 101 runs. Cameron Green remained unbeaten on 51, having made 104 in the first Test at Darwin, but the top order collapsed. Matt Renshaw edged to slip for eight on his recall, Travis Head chopped on for 22, and Marnus Labuschagne was bowled for four. Steve Smith made 42 before being lbw, whilst Alex Carey and Beau Webster both fell for ducks. Bangladesh's Shoriful Islam took six for 35 in his best-ever Test innings return, having recovered from a side strain that kept him out of the first Test.

The wicket proved unusually conducive to fast bowling. Mitchell Starc recorded his fourth Test match dismissal from the opening ball, a record, and described the pitch as comparable to previous Gabba surfaces. Bangladesh's total of 64 was the lowest by a team batting first in Australia since South Africa were dismissed for 36 in 1932. The second Test remains ongoing.