Mitchell Starc delivered a brilliant opening spell on Saturday, tearing apart Bangladesh's batting line-up in the second Test at Mackay. The left-arm quick finished with six wickets for just 12 runs as Bangladesh were bowled out for 64.

Starc made an immediate impact by taking a wicket with the very first ball of the innings. Shadman Islam was dismissed for a duck, giving Starc a new record. He has now taken a wicket in the opening over of a Test match nine times, moving ahead of former England pacer James Anderson, who did it eight times.

ALSO READ: 'It's A Tough Proposition...': India Coach Gives Big Update on Kuldeep Yadav’s Chances In 2nd Test vs Sri Lanka

The Australian quick continued his attack and picked up five wickets in his first seven overs. Bangladesh were soon in deep trouble at 12/5. Pat Cummins then joined the party, taking three wickets for 25 runs as Bangladesh slipped to 39/9.

Taijul Islam and Shoriful Islam offered some resistance late in the innings. The pair added 25 runs for the final wicket, helping Bangladesh avoid their lowest Test total of 43, which came against the West Indies in 2018.

Bangladesh eventually managed 64, but it was still a disastrous innings. It became their lowest Test total against Australia and their lowest score in a Test played on Australian soil.

Recommended For You

Starc's six-wicket haul also helped him reach another major milestone. His six wickets took his Test tally to 441, moving him past South African great Dale Steyn, who finished with 439 wickets. Starc is now 10th on the list of Australia's? No, on the list of the highest wicket-takers in Test cricket.

ALSO READ: Sri Lanka Make 2 Changes For Must-Win Second Test vs India: Check Full Squad

The 36-year-old now has 19 five-wicket hauls and three 10-wicket match hauls in Test cricket. His best innings figures remain 7/58, while his Test bowling average is 26.27.

Australia also had a shaky start with the bat. The hosts were 50/3 at the tea break, with Steve Smith unbeaten on six and Cameron Green on one.

Travis Head was dismissed for 22, while Matt Renshaw scored eight and Marnus Labuschagne made four. Shoriful Islam took two wickets for six runs, while Taskin Ahmed claimed one wicket for 26 runs.

The collapse was a major turnaround for Bangladesh, who had stunned Australia in the first Test in Darwin to record their first-ever Test win over the hosts. But that momentum disappeared quickly in the second match.

Starc was the main reason for the dramatic change. He needed only 22 deliveries to take his first five wickets and put Australia firmly in control of the game.

Bangladesh's late partnership prevented an even more embarrassing score, but their total of 64 still gave them an unwanted place in their Test history. Their lowest-ever Test score remains 43 against the West Indies in 2018, while they were also bowled out for 53 against South Africa in Durban in 2022.


Also In News