Mitchell Starc tore through Bangladesh’s top order as the visitors reached lunch at 35 for six on the opening day of the second Test against Australia at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay.
After Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bowl, Starc struck with the first ball of the innings, removing Shadman Islam for a duck. Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Najmul Hossain Shanto soon followed as Bangladesh struggled against Australia’s pace attack.
Starc then added two more wickets to complete his five-wicket haul, reducing Bangladesh to 35 for six before lunch. He finished the session with five wickets for 11 runs from nine overs.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz was unbeaten on 11 from 48 balls at the break, while Hasan Mahmud was 8 not out from 24 balls. The pair had added 14 runs from 45 balls for the seventh wicket to give Bangladesh some stability after the early collapse.
Bangladesh had lost their first five wickets for just 12 runs, with Starc responsible for all of them. His five-wicket haul came in 22 balls, continuing his remarkable record against Bangladesh.
The collapse came after Bangladesh’s nine-wicket victory in the first Test in Darwin, where they took a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
Australia’s decision to bowl first has paid off handsomely so far, with the home side’s fast bowlers exploiting the movement and bounce available from the Mackay surface.
Bangladesh now face a major task in the second session, with only four wickets remaining and Miraz along with Hasan at the crease.
