Australia rebounded from their surprising opening defeat to Bangladesh in Darwin by delivering a dominant innings win in just two days at Mackay, thereby equalising the two‑match Test series at one win each. The Australian bowlers ripped through the Bangladeshi line‑up, with Mitchell Starc leading the charge by taking four wickets for 39 runs in the second innings and finishing the match with an impressive ten‑for‑51.
Bangladesh were dismissed for under one hundred for the second time in the game, underscoring the potency of the Australian attack. Pat Cummins also made a major impact, snaring three wickets for just ten runs, while off‑spinner Nathan Lyon added three for 25. Their combined effort bowled Bangladesh out for 95 in 38.3 overs before the tea break on day two, sealing an innings‑and‑51‑run victory for the visitors. In the first innings, Bangladesh were bundled out for a meagre 64 in 34 overs.
Starc exploded with figures of six for 12, Cummins claimed three for 25 and Josh Hazlewood chipped in with one for 18. Shoriful Islam was the lone Bangladeshi bowler to take a wicket, finishing with 14 runs conceded. Australia responded with a modest 210 all out in 52.3 overs.
Cameron Green top‑scored with 67, while Steve Smith contributed 42 and Nathan Lyon added a useful 32 not out. Bangladesh’s Shoriful Islam took 7‑48, the best innings haul by a Bangladeshi bowler on foreign soil, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam each claimed a wicket.
The second innings saw Bangladesh collapse again, managing only 95 runs. Starc’s four‑for‑39 and Cummins’s three‑for‑10 dismantled the batting order, while Lyon’s three‑for‑25 wrapped up the final wickets. Najmul Hossain Shanto made a fighting 31, and Mushfiqur Rahim added 29 not out, but the rest of the line‑up could not offer resistance. Starc, who was named Player of the Match, reflected on the turnaround: "Much better week.
We knew we weren’t at our best in Darwin, but this week we delivered what we expect of ourselves, especially with the ball and the helpful wicket conditions." Despite the emphatic win, questions linger about Australia’s batting depth as they prepare for a three‑Test series in South Africa, the reigning World Test Championship champions, later this year. The scorecard tells the story of a match where the bowlers dictated terms.
Australia, 165‑8 at the end of day one, were eventually bowled out for 210, with Green’s 67 standing as the only half‑century after his century in the first Test. Shoriful Islam’s 7‑48 remained a historic performance for Bangladesh, marking the best innings figures by a Bangladeshi bowler away from home.
Bangladesh required 146 runs to force Australia to bat again, but they slumped to 39‑3 by lunch and suffered a dramatic middle‑session collapse, ending the day at 95‑8. Starc, who had already stunned with a 6‑12 spell in the first innings, continued his dominance, taking the wicket of opener Shadman Islam for a single run before dismissing Mominul Haque for a duck in his second over. He also trapped wicketkeeper Litton Das for a second consecutive duck and bowled tail‑ender Taijul Islam for 11. With this performance, Starc moved into tenth place on the all‑time Test wicket‑takers list, amassing 445 dismissals and edging closer to Nathan Lyon, who sits just four spots ahead.
Starc joked about the rivalry, saying, "Nathan didn’t remind me that I’ve just stepped on the first rung of the ladder and he’s still up there looking down on me," flashing a wry grin. Lyon, meanwhile, claimed the crucial wicket of Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto for 31 and then wrapped up the final two wickets in three balls after tea, sealing the match for Australia. The victory, while decisive, serves as a reminder that Australia’s batting line‑up still needs to find consistency before the upcoming South African tour, where conditions will test both the pace and spin departments. Overall, the Mackay Test showcased Australia’s ability to bounce back swiftly after a setback, with a bowling unit that could dismantle a side twice in a single match.
The series is now level, setting the stage for a potentially thrilling third encounter, should a decider be arranged, and providing valuable lessons for both teams as they look ahead to their respective challenges on the global stage.