Mackay Test: Australia crush Bangladesh by an innings and 51 runs in second-shortest match Down Under

Just 750 balls were all that it took for Australia to beat Bangladesh by an innings and 51 runs to win the second Test and level the two-match Test series 1-1. Mitchell Starc returned with 10 wickets in Mackay, which hosted its maiden Test, the second-shortest on Australian soil and overall, the fourth-shortest, as Australia buried the Darwin ghost to sit at the top of the WTC standings. For the visitors, the left-arm seamer Shoriful Islam picked up his career-best 7/48 in Australia’s first innings.

Bangladesh were bowled out for 64 and 95 across two innings – registering an unwanted record of becoming the first team to be dismissed inside 100 twice in a Test in 21 years (since Zimbabwe in 2005).

"A lot of things went right these couple of days and a lot of things went wrong last week. We needed to bounce back, and it was a great couple of days for the lads. I thought everyone was sharp. It was the opposite last week. If you get a really good first hour or two, it can set up the rest of the match,” Australian captain Pat Cummins said following his team’s massive win in Mackay.

Starc started the proceedings with a wicket off the first ball of a Test match by dismissing opener Shadman Islam, caught in the gully. Soon after, he picked up four more wickets to complete his second-quickest five-for in just 22 balls, reducing Bangladesh to 12 for five at one stage. Captain Pat Cummins and seamer Josh Hazlewood picked up four wickets among them before Starc returned to bag his sixth for the match, wrapping up Bangladesh's first innings for 65.

Starc then completed his 10-wicket haul in the second innings on day two, helping Australia avenge the Darwin Test loss – perhaps the most shocking in Australia’s Test history.

“A much better week,” Starc, who won the Player of the Match award, said.

“We knew we were not at our best in Darwin. Bangladesh played really well. Take nothing away from them there. What we expected from ourselves this week is what we got, particularly with the ball on a wicket that aided us with the ball,” he added.

Shanto Rues Missed Chances

Shoriful, on the other hand, enjoyed his breathtaking spells against the mighty Aussies, dismissing heavyweights like Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith. His first-innings masterclass helped Bangladesh wrap up Australia’s innings on 210. However, it was Bangladesh’s batting that let them down, and captain Shanto admitted it in his post-match speech.

"We know how good Australia are. They showed their character. We didn't play our best in this Test match. This was different conditions. A little extra bounce and swing in the air. It was challenging for us.

"It was quite a difficult wicket to bat on, to be very honest. We need to be consistent, and I believe if we get more chances in similar conditions, it will help us,” Shanto said.