AUS vs BAN Test Day 2: Starc strikes as Bangladesh struggle to stay alive

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Australia’s Mitchell Starc (C) celebrates with teammates after bowling Bangladesh’s Mominul Haque during the second day of the second cricket Test match between Australia and Bangladesh at the Great Barrier Reef Stadium in Mackay on August 23, 2026. | Photo Credit: AFP

An irrepressible Mitchell Starc ripped into the Bangladesh top order as Australia took an iron grip on the second Test Sunday with the visitors battling to stay alive at lunch on day two.

After 18 wickets fell on a frenetic first day in Mackay, the hosts were all out for 210 in the morning session for a lead of 146 on the back of Cameron Green’s 67.

Star quick Shoriful Islam ended with 7-48 -- the best figures from a Bangladeshi bowler in an away Test.

The visitors crashed for just 64 in their first innings, when Starc took 6-12, and he tormented them again to leave Bangladesh tottering at 39-3 by lunch, still 107 runs adrift.

Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was not out 23 and Mushfiqur Rahim on four after a horror start.

Shadman Islam lasted just three balls, playing a nothing stroke to a moving Starc delivery and edging to Marnus Labuschagne at point.

Mominul Haque was equally clueless next ball, failing to offer a shot with Starc removing his off stump and setting up a hat-trick opportunity.

Shanto, who was out for a golden duck in the first innings, this time survived to deny Starc.

But their woes deepened when Tanzid Hasan departed soon after for nine. Starc was again involved, taking a catch in the deep after Tanzid pulled Pat Cummins.

Green, who scored a century during the first Test at Darwin -- which Bangladesh won by nine wickets -- kept the scoreboard moving early with quick singles.

Lyon was first to hit a boundary with a quality drive through mid-wicket off Shoriful, but Green was also in the zone and reached the ropes twice off Hasan Mahmud in the next over.

The allrounder was undone by an inswinging yorker from the impressive Shoriful that hit him on the toe with a review declaring him out lbw.