Australia swiftly answered the surprise defeat they suffered in the opening Test against Bangladesh in Darwin by delivering a commanding innings victory in just two days at Mackay, thereby drawing the two‑match series level at one win apiece. The Australian bowlers were the decisive factor, with Mitchell Starc leading the charge by claiming four wickets for 39 runs in the second innings and finishing the match with a remarkable ten‑for‑51 haul. Bangladesh’s batting collapsed twice, first being dismissed for a paltry 64 and then for just 95, marking their second sub‑100 total of the encounter. In the second innings, Pat Cummins added three wickets for ten runs while off‑spinner Nathan Lyon contributed three for 25, ensuring Bangladesh could not recover from the early onslaught.
The visitors were bowled out for 95 in 38.3 overs before the tea break on day two, sealing an innings‑and‑51‑run triumph for Australia. The first innings saw Bangladesh tumble to 64 all out in 34 overs, with Starc producing a devastating spell of six wickets for 12 runs, Cummins picking up three for 25, and Josh Hazlewood adding one for 18. Shoriful Islam was the lone Bangladeshi bowler to take a wicket, finishing with figures of 14 runs for one wicket.
Australia responded with a modest total of 210, courtesy of a patient 67 from Cameron Green and a solid 42 from veteran Steve Smith. Nathan Lyon contributed a useful 32 not out, while Bangladesh’s bowlers shared the wickets: Shoriful Islam (7‑48), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (1‑4), Taijul Islam (1‑17) and Taskin Ahmed (1‑58). In the second innings, Bangladesh’s top‑order again crumbled. Najmul Hossain Shanto managed 31 before falling to Lyon, and Mushfiqur Rahim added 29 not out, but the rest of the line‑up could not muster resistance, leading to a total of 95.
Starc’s four‑for‑39 in this innings, combined with Cummins’ three‑for‑10 and Lyon’s three‑for‑25, wrapped up the match. Starc, who earned the Player of the Match award, 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, lingering concerns remain about Australia’s batting depth as they prepare for a three‑Test series in South Africa, the reigning World Test Championship holders, later in October. Scorecard summary: - Bangladesh 1st innings: 64 all out (Starc 6‑12, Cummins 3‑25, Hazlewood 1‑18; Shoriful Islam 14 runs) - Australia 1st innings: 210 all out (Green 67, Smith 42, Lyon 32*; Shoriful Islam 7‑48, Miraz 1‑4, Taijul 1‑17, Taskin 1‑58) - Bangladesh 2nd innings: 95 all out (Starc 4‑39, Cummins 3‑10, Lyon 3‑25; Shanto 31, Rahim 29*) The victory was marked by several notable performances.
Starc’s six‑for‑12 in the first innings was one of the most devastating spells ever recorded by a left‑arm pacer in Test cricket, propelling him to tenth place on the all‑time wicket‑takers list with 445 dismissals, just four behind his teammate Nathan Lyon. Lyon, already the most prolific left‑arm spinner in Tests, added a crucial wicket of Bangladesh captain Shanto and finished the match with a tidy three‑for‑25. Australia’s batting, while not spectacular, proved sufficient. After a solid start, they were 165‑8 at one point before being bowled out for 210.
Green’s 67 was the only half‑century, and his earlier century in the first Test underscored his importance at the top of the order. The rest of the line‑up struggled to convert starts, a trend that will be scrutinised ahead of the South African tour. Bangladesh’s Shoriful Islam, recalled for his left‑arm pace, delivered the best innings figures by a Bangladeshi bowler on foreign soil, taking 7‑48.
His effort, however, was not enough to offset the Australian firepower. The visitors needed 146 runs to force Bangladesh to bat again but slumped to 39‑3 by lunch on day two and were eventually bundled out for 95, ending the match.
Starc’s spell in the second innings was equally lethal. He dismissed opener Shadman Islam for a single run, then removed Mominul Haque for a duck in his second over. He continued the onslaught by having wicket‑keeper Litton Das caught behind for another duck and later bowled tail‑ender Taijul Islam for 11. His consistency with the new ball highlighted why he is regarded as one of the premier left‑arm fast bowlers in the modern game.
Reflecting on his achievement, Starc joked, "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," a light‑hearted comment that underscored the camaraderie within the Australian camp. Looking ahead, the Australian team will aim to fine‑tune their batting order, ensuring they can post competitive totals against South Africa’s potent bowling attack.
The series against Bangladesh has shown that when their bowlers fire, Australia can dominate even when their batting falters. The upcoming tour will test whether they can translate that bowling dominance into more balanced performances across both disciplines, a crucial factor if they hope to reclaim the top spot in the World Test Championship standings.