Australia’s Mitchell Starc (L) celebrates with teammates after taking his fifth wicket for the innings when he dismissed Bangladesh’s Litton Das during the first day of the second cricket Test match between Australia and Bangladesh at the Great Barrier Reef Stadium in Mackay on August 22, 2026.
| Photo Credit: AFP
Australian paceman Mitchell Starc took five wickets in his first four overs of the second test against Bangladesh in a brutal spell of swing bowling on a bouncy, Gabba-style wicket in Mackay, Queensland on Saturday (August 22, 2026).
The left-armer removed both Bangladesh openers, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and wicketkeeper Litton Das, for ducks to leave Bangladesh at 12 for five.
Opener Shadman Islam was out with the first ball of the match after sending a thick edge flying to Cameron Green in the gully. Meanwhile, Opener Tanzid Hasan followed in Starc’s next over with a loose drive , sending a nick to Beau Webster in the slips, before Shanto was trapped lbw on the next ball, leaving Bangladesh at 9 for three.
Starc grabbed his fourth wicket when number three Mominul Haque drove at a full, wider delivery, nicking to Green at the gully.
Earlier, skipper Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to field.
“The wicket looks pretty good but if there is any moisture in it it might be this morning,” Australia captain Pat Cummins said.
Australia announced a 13-man squad earlier this week, with only one change for the second test. It dropped Jake Weatherald and recalled Matt Renshaw, who will open the batting, after a surprising loss to Bangladesh in the first test last weekend in Darwin.
Bangladesh also made one change — Shoriful Islam comes in for Ebadot Hossain.
The match began under sunny skies at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay, a coastal city in Queensland state about 800 kilometers (500 miles) north of the capital Brisbane.
Bangladesh’s first test win in Australia put pressure on national cricket selectors for an overhaul, but the bulk of the aging squad was retained despite being outplayed in Darwin, where the likes of Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Tanzid Hasan made the most of the tropical conditions.
Published – August 22, 2026 07:17 am IST
