Australia speedster Mitchell Starc produced a masterclass in pace bowling to bowl Bangladesh out for a paltry 64 runs in their first innings of the second Test in Mackay. Taking just 34 overs to dismantle the visitors, Australia exerted absolute dominance as Bangladesh recorded their fourth-lowest total in Test cricket history.
Buoyed by an extraordinary nine-wicket victory in the series opener, Najmul Hossain Shanto’s side took the field with considerable confidence. That optimism evaporated within minutes. Starc struck with the very first delivery of the match, removing opener Shadman Islam for a golden duck, before tearing through the top order to reduce Bangladesh to 12 for 5 in just 6.4 overs. Tanzid Hasan Tamim, skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mominul Haque, and Litton Das all fell in rapid succession.
During that opening spell, Starc conceded just four runs across four overs while bowling three maidens. By completing his five-wicket haul in just 22 deliveries, he achieved the fourth-fastest five-wicket haul in Test history—reminiscent of his famous 15-ball five-wicket blitz against the West Indies in Jamaica. Starc ended the innings with sensational figures of 6 wickets for 13 runs from 10 overs, including six maidens. Major sports outlets including ESPNcricinfo provided extensive coverage of the historic bowling display.
When Bangladesh slumped to 39 for 9, they faced the humiliating prospect of breaking their previous lowest Test total of 43. Tail-ender Taijul Islam averted that absolute disaster in the 30th over by striking a boundary off Josh Hazlewood. Fast bowler Shoriful Islam emerged as the top scorer for the innings with 14 runs, while Taijul remained unbeaten on 12 as the innings drew to a swift close.
