Mitchell Starc's devastating spell of 6 for 12 helped dismiss Bangladesh for just 64 before Australia's top order faltered, leaving the hosts at 165 for 8 at stumps on a remarkable opening day of the second Test in Mackay.
Starc claimed five wickets before lunch, including a record-breaking fourth Test wicket with the first ball of the match. Bangladesh's left-arm paceman Shoriful Islam then fought back impressively, taking 6 for 35 off 11 overs — his best-ever return in an innings — to expose Australia's batting frailties on a pitch that heavily assisted the seamers.
Starc's record-breaking burst
Starc's figures included a wicket with the first ball of the Test, a feat he has now achieved a record four times. He had four wickets for four runs off three overs as Bangladesh's top order collapsed, with three batters falling for ducks. The visitors were eventually bowled out for 64 in just 34 overs, the lowest total by a team batting first in Australia since South Africa's 36 in 1932.
Captain Pat Cummins also chipped in with 3 for 25. Starc's five-wicket haul was the sixth-fastest in Test history, just seven balls shy of his own all-time record of 15 deliveries against West Indies in Kingston last year. He moved to 441 Test wickets, going past Dale Steyn into 10th on the all-time list.
Australia's batting collapse
Australia's reply began poorly as opener Matt Renshaw, playing his first Test since 2023, edged to slip for eight. Shoriful then claimed two wickets in his first over, dismissing Travis Head (22) and Marnus Labuschagne (4), who missed a delivery that rebounded off his thigh pad onto the stumps.
Steve Smith (42) was given lbw to Shoriful and his review showed the ball was just shaving the off-stump. Shoriful also trapped Beau Webster and Pat Cummins for ducks before cleaning up Starc for one. Cameron Green, who made 104 in the first Test in Darwin, held the innings together with an unbeaten 51.
Day one summary
Cummins won the toss and inserted Bangladesh, with Starc quickly taking over. After the visitors' innings, Australia stumbled to 165 for 8 at stumps, with 18 wickets falling on the day. The hosts will resume on day two looking to extend their lead after their bowlers had earlier atoned for the nine-wicket loss in Darwin.
