Shoriful keeps Bangladesh alive after chaotic opening day

Shoriful Islam's maiden six-wicket haul kept Bangladesh alive in a chaotic opening day of the second Test, with 18 wickets falling for 229 runs in Mackay on Saturday.

Starc claimed 6-12 as Bangladesh were bowled out for just 64, their fourth-lowest Test total. Shoriful, batting at No. 11, top-scored with 14, while Taijul Islam made 11.

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Shoriful struck twice, removing Travis Head for 22 and Marnus Labuschagne for four before Australia raced to 50. He returned after tea to dismiss Steven Smith for 42, before claiming Beau Webster, Pat Cummins and Starc in a stunning burst.

Shoriful finished with 6-35 from 11 overs, accounting for six of Australia's eight wickets. 

His performance also produced a remarkable statistical double: he became the first Test cricketer to score the highest number of runs for his team from No. 11 and then take the most wickets in the opposition's innings.

Cameron Green's unbeaten 51 and Nathan Lyon's 10 helped Australia reach 165 for eight at stumps, a lead of 101 runs, with Josh Hazlewood still to bat.

Bangladesh still have work to do, but Shoriful's spell ensured the Tigers were not buried under the weight of their own first-innings collapse.

The 18-wicket tally on the day was the third-highest on the opening day of a Test in Australia since 1975, underlining the extraordinary nature of a day that began with Mitchell Starc ripping through Bangladesh's batting.

Bangladesh's morning nightmare has turned into a slightly more encouraging afternoon, with Australia reaching 50 for three at tea after the Tigers were dismissed for 64 on the opening day of the second Test in Mackay on Saturday.

After Mitchell Starc's stunning six-wicket haul, Australia raced to 50 in just 9.5 overs. But Bangladesh hit back through Shoriful Islam, who removed Travis Head for 22 and Marnus Labuschagne for four, while Taskin Ahmed dismissed Matt Renshaw for eight.

Steven Smith was unbeaten on six alongside Cameron Green on one at tea, leaving Australia just 14 runs behind.

Bangladesh lead the series 1-0 following a nine-wicket win in Darwin.

Tigers bundled out for fourth-lowest Test total as Starc takes six

Australia wrapped things up quickly soon after the lunch break on Day 1 of the second Test in Mackay today, bundling Bangladesh out for just 64 in 34 overs in their first innings -- their fourth-lowest total in Test history.

At one point, however, it looked like the Tigers were on course to be bowled out for their lowest total when they were reduced to 39 for nine soon after lunch. They avoided that fate, though, surpassing their lowest-ever Test total of 43 all out, recorded against the West Indies at North Sound in 2018. That was thanks to some late resistance from the final pair of Taijul Islam and Shoriful Islam, who added 25 crucial runs -- the highest partnership for the Tigers on the day.

Australia skipper Pat Cummins struck in just the second over after lunch, enticing Mehidy Hasan Miraz to drive at a wide delivery and edge one to Beau Webster at third slip. Miraz, the last recognised Bangladesh batter, walked off after making 11 off 51 balls.

Josh Hazlewood then removed Hasan Mahmud with a perfect setup, forcing the right-hander to glance a straight delivery to Nathan Lyon at leg slip in the very next over.

Cummins returned to remove Taskin Ahmed in the 29th over, with the tailender skying a bouncer from the Australian skipper straight into the hands of Matt Renshaw at square leg.

The last pair of Taijul and Shoriful, however, frustrated the Aussies for a while before their resistance finally came to an end when Mitchell Starc made Shoriful his sixth victim of the day, taking a faint edge off his bat through to the keeper. Shoriful made 14 off 19 deliveries, while Taijul remained unbeaten on 11 off 26.

Earlier, Starc took just 22 deliveries to claim his 19th Test five-wicket haul, leaving Bangladesh in tatters in a frantic opening session that yielded just 35 runs for six wickets in 23 overs.

Starc finished with figures of six for 12 in 10 overs, including six maidens.

Batting at No. 11, Shoriful top-scored for Bangladesh in an innings -- the first time in Test history that a No. 11 has been his team’s highest scorer against Australia.

It is only the second such instance for Bangladesh. The first came in the 2004 Chattogram Test against India, when No. 11 Talha Jubair top-scored with 31 in Bangladesh’s total of 124.

Tigers in deep trouble after Starc show in nightmare opening session

Bangladesh endured a torrid opening session in Mackay as Australia's pace attack ripped through their top order, with Mitchell Starc producing a quick-fire five-wicket burst before captain Pat Cummins joined the rout to leave the Tigers six down at Lunch on Day 1 of the second and final Test at the Great Barrier Reef Arena today.

At Lunch, Bangladesh hobbled to 35 for six in 23 overs, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz unbeaten on 11 off 48 deliveries and tailender Hasan Mahmud not out on eight off 24 deliveries.

Having won the toss and elected to field, Australia needed just one delivery to make the breakthrough, with Starc having Shadman Islam edge one back to gully for a golden duck. It was the fourth time the left-arm quick had taken a wicket with the opening delivery of a Test, moving him past West Indies pacer Pedro Collins for the most such dismissals.

In a devastating spell, Starc then removed opener Tanzid Tamim and Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto off successive deliveries in his second over. Both batters departed without troubling the scorers, leaving Bangladesh three down with just nine runs on the board.

The left-armer struck again in the fifth over, having Mominul Haque edge one to Cameron Green at gully for nine before dismissing Litton Das for a five-ball duck in his following over. The latter completed Starc's five-wicket haul in just 22 deliveries -- the sixth-fastest five-for in Test history and the 19th of his career.

Starc, who holds the record for the fastest five-wicket haul in Test cricket after taking five in just 15 deliveries against the West Indies in Kingston last year, also moved past England great James Anderson for the most instances of taking a wicket in the first over of a Test, with nine.

With Starc having done most of the damage, Cummins then added to Bangladesh's misery soon after drinks. In the 16th over, the Australia captain produced a fuller-length seam-up delivery that nipped just enough to find the gap between Mushfiqur Rahim's bat and pad, crashing into the stumps.

Mushfiqur, Bangladesh's most experienced Test cricketer, walked back for five off 42 deliveries, leaving the Tigers' tail exposed and Miraz as the last recognised batter at the crease.

The veteran had battled through the difficult conditions alongside Miraz for a considerable period, but Bangladesh's inability to counter Australia's relentless pace attack left them in deep trouble at the interval.

Bangladesh, who lead the two-match series 1-0 after their historic nine-wicket victory in Darwin -- their first Test win on Australian soil -- had arrived in Mackay with a chance to secure a first-ever series win over Australia.

Instead, they face a long battle to stay in the contest after a nightmare opening session.

Starc leaves Bangladesh reeling, sets new record

Australia pacer Mitchell Starc left Bangladesh in tatters, taking five wickets in quick succession and setting a new world record early on Day 1 of the second and final Test at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay yesterday.

The left-arm quick removed Bangladesh opener Shadman Islam with the first delivery -- the fourth time Starc has taken a wicket with the opening ball of a Test. His previous three came against Sri Lanka in Galle in 2016, England in Brisbane in 2021 and India in Adelaide in 2024.

He surpassed West Indies pacer Pedro Collins, who had also taken a wicket with the first delivery of a Test on three occasions. Interestingly, all three of Collins' wickets came against the same batter -- Bangladesh's Hannan Sarkar. Collins dismissed Sarkar with the opening delivery of a Test in Dhaka in 2002 before repeating the feat in St Lucia in May 2004 and Kingston in June 2004.

Starc also moved past England great James Anderson for the most instances of taking a wicket in the first over of a Test. The Australian now has nine such dismissals, one more than Anderson.

After removing Shadman, Starc struck again in his second over, dismissing opener Tanzid Tamim and Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto off successive deliveries. All three batters fell for ducks.

Starc struck again in the fifth over, having Mominul Haque edge one to Cameron Green at gully. Mominul departed for nine off 16 balls. Starc then removed Litton Das for a five-ball duck in the following over to claim the sixth-fastest five-wicket haul in Test cricket history. Starc, who holds the record for the fastest five-for after achieving the feat in just 15 deliveries against the West Indies in Kingston in 2025, took 22 deliveries to complete his 19th five-wicket haul in Tests today.

Litton had survived a scare just one delivery earlier when he fended one back towards Beau Webster at third slip, but the right-hander could not survive for long.

After seven overs, Bangladesh were reeling at 12 for five, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz yet to open his account after facing two deliveries and Mushfiqur Rahim unbeaten on two off 15 balls.

Australia opt to bowl first in Mackay as Tigers eye more history

Australia have won the toss and elected to field first in the second and final Test of the two-match series against Bangladesh at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay on Saturday.

Bangladesh lead the series 1-0, following their incredible nine-wicket win in the first match in Darwin last week -- also the Tigers’ first-ever Test win on Australian soil. Najmul Hossain Shanto and Co will be eyeing more history in Mackay, which is set to be Australia’s 12th Test venue.

Both teams made just a single change each for the game. Bangladesh recalled pacer Shoriful Islam, who missed the first game due to injury, to replace Ebadot Hossain.

Australia, meanwhile, had already announced their playing XI a day earlier, with Matthew Renshaw replacing Jake Weatherald at the top of the order. Renshaw, who has two first-class centuries at the Mackay venue, returns to Test cricket for the first time since 2023.

Australia have otherwise resisted wholesale changes after their heavy defeat in Darwin, retaining the same bowling attack, with skipper Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood leading the pace attack and Nathan Lyon providing the spin option.

For Bangladesh, a series victory would be their first against Australia and their first on Australian soil. It would also see Bangladesh complete a historic whitewash on Australian soil -- a feat achieved only once before, by England in 1886-87, 139 years ago.

It would also be only the third time, after the West Indies in 2009 and Pakistan in 2024, that the Tigers have won both Tests of an away series.

Meanwhile, a draw in this game would also see Bangladesh take the series -- becoming only the sixth visiting team -- after England, South Africa, West Indies, New Zealand and India -- to win a Test series down under, and only the second Asian side to achieve the feat.

India needed four attempts to draw a series (1980-81) and 12 attempts to win one (2018-19), while Pakistan drew on their first attempt (1964-65) but are still searching for a series victory after 14 attempts. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have suffered seven straight series losses since 1988.

The challenge for Bangladesh, however, is likely to be greater in Mackay.

Australia will be wounded after the Darwin defeat and under pressure to restore their pride.

Playing XIs:

Australia: 1 Travis Head, 2 Matt Renshaw, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Cameron Green, 6 Alex Carey (wk), 7 Beau Webster, 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Josh Hazlewood

Bangladesh: 1 Tanzid Hasan, 2 Shadman Islam, 3 Mominul Haque, 4 Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), 5 Mushfiqur Rahim, 6 Litton Das (wk), 7 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 8 Hasan Mahmud, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Taijul Islam, 11 Shoriful Islam