Starc and Shoriful shine as pacers rule Day 1 in Mackay

Pace bowling at its finest was on display on Day 1 in Mackay during the second Test of Bangladesh’s tour of Australia.

Having lost the first of their ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 series contest in Darwin, Australia elected to field first. Mitchell Starc backed Pat Cummins' call with a ripping opening spell, accounting for his five-for in merely 22 deliveries, making him the sixth-fastest to the landmark.  He eventually finished with figures of 6/12.

In the process, Starc also moved past Dale Steyn to become the 10th-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket history.

Australia captain Pat Cummins also made a significant impact with three wickets, while Josh Hazlewood chipped in with one as Australia bowled Bangladesh out for just 64 in 34 overs.

Rather than being bogged down by the collapse, Bangladesh hit back strongly with Shoriful Islam leading the charge. The left-arm pacer produced a sensational spell, claiming five wickets in just 8.5 overs to register the second-fastest five-wicket haul by a Bangladesh bowler in Test cricket, behind only Taijul Islam’s in 6.5 overs against West Indies in 2018.

Australia were reduced to 41/3 before Steve Smith and Cameron Green steadied the innings with a crucial 77-run partnership from 112 balls. However, Shoriful Islam eventually broke the stand by trapping Smith lbw, giving Bangladesh an important breakthrough.

Bangladesh then made further impact by claiming four wickets in the space of just 14 balls. Australia slipped to 148/8 before Green and Nathan Lyon combined for an unbeaten 17-run partnership to take the hosts to 165/8 at stumps. The hosts have a significant 101-run lead on a surface that has shown movement, and will look to further their advantage in the morning.

Shoriful stood with figures of 6/35, with a chance of getting more scalps on Day 2 of the Test.