Aussie top order fails again as 18 wickets fall on opening day of second Test against Bangladesh
Australia’s top-order batting woes continued after Mitchell Starc’s six-wicket blitz as Bangladesh fought back on an extraordinary opening day of the second Test in Mackay.
Bangladesh’s own left-arm speedster Shoriful Islam, who had recovered from a side strain that kept him out of the first Test, cut a swathe through Australia’s batting to claim 6-35 off 11 lethal overs in his best-ever return in an innings.
Australia were 8-165 at stumps on a day when 18 wickets fell on a Great Barrier Reef Arena surface that assisted the pace bowlers.
In-form No.5 Cameron Green (51no) held the innings together after making 104 in the first Test in Darwin.
Earlier Starc (6-12) had five wickets by his 22nd delivery as the visitors collapsed in a heap to be all out for 64 off just 34 overs.
Australia opener Matt Renshaw then failed to make the most of his recall, and No.3 Marnus Labuschagne’s struggles continued.
Renshaw, opening the innings in his first Test since 2023, edged to slip after making just eight, before Shoriful claimed two wickets in his first over.
Travis Head (22) chopped on for the third time in a row in this series.
Battling Labuschagne made four before he missed a delivery on leg stump that hit his thigh pad and rebounded on to the stumps.
Steve Smith (42) was lbw to Shoriful with one he reviewed. The ball was just shaving the off stump and the star No.4 threw his head back in disappointment at his wretched luck.
Shoriful trapped Beau Webster in front and blasted out Pat Cummins, both for ducks, then cleaned up Starc (one) in a devastating burst.
Starc earlier took a wicket with the first ball of a Test match for a record-breaking fourth time before skittling and rattling a bumbling Bangladesh batting line-up.
Bangladesh had no answer to Starc’s swing and pace, before Australia captain Pat Cummins chimed in with 3-25.
The total was the lowest by a team batting first in Australia since 1932 when South Africa were dismissed for 36.
5News aggregated this summary from the outlet’s public feed. The full article, with all the context, is on 7news.com.au — the content belongs to 7NEWS Australia.
