Dbarta24 Sports Desk- Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc delivered a masterclass in pace bowling to tear through Bangladesh, bowling the visitors out for a paltry 64 runs in their first innings of the Mackay Test at the Great Barrier Reef Arena.
Disastrous Start from Ball One
Opting to field first after winning the toss, Australia needed just one delivery to break through Bangladesh’s defense.
Starc struck on the very first ball of the match, producing a sharp away-swinger that caught Shadman Islam’s edge, flying straight into Cameron Green’s hands.
Shadman registered a golden duck, making him the first batter to fall on the opening ball of a Test match at this newly minted Test venue.
The nightmare deepened immediately. In his next over, Starc dismissed Tanzid Hasan Tamim, who nicked to Beau Webster in the slips to record back-to-back ducks following his previous match.
Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto also departed for a golden duck after an unsuccessful umpire’s call review on an LBW appeal.
Starc continued his rampage by having Muminul Haque (9) caught at gully and trapping Litton Das (4) LBW after a successful Australian review, leaving Bangladesh reeling at 12 for 5.
Starc Rewrites Record Books
Starc completed his 19th five-wicket haul in Test cricket in just 22 balls—the fastest five-wicket haul ever taken against Bangladesh in Test history. The left-arm pacer finished with astonishing figures of 6 for 12 from 10 overs, including 6 maidens.
Minor Tail-End Resistance
Pat Cummins kept the pressure tight from the other end, bowling Mushfiqur Rahim (5) through the gate and later removing Mehidy Hasan Miraz (11).
Josh Hazlewood chipped in by dismissing Hasan Mahmud (10) as Bangladesh stumbled to 38 for 8, threatening their lowest-ever Test total of 43.
A late 25-run stand between Taijul Islam (11*) and Shoriful Islam (14) spared Bangladesh from ultimate ignominy, pushing the total past 43 before Starc returned to seal the innings, getting Shoriful caught behind to fold Bangladesh for 64 in 34 overs. Pat Cummins ended with 3 for 15, while Hazlewood picked up 1 for 18.