Innings Bangladesh 64 (Shoriful 14, Starc 6-12, Cummins 3-25) vs Australia

Mitchell Starc‘s six-wicket burst – in just ten overs of bowling – dismantled Bangladesh, who were bowled out for their fourth-lowest total in Test cricket in Mackay on the first afternoon. They lasted only 34 overs, their innings completed less than an hour into the second session of the opening day.

It might not have lasted even that long, and Starc might not even have needed all those overs, after Bangladesh were 12 for 5 – with four of their top six out for ducks – inside seven overs in the morning. All the wickets had gone to Starc in just 22 balls.

Starc was all over the batters with his pace and late swing with the new ball, and the haul took Starc past Dale Steyn’s 439 wickets. Starc finished with 6 for 12, returning after a bit of resistance from the lower order to complete the rout. Bangladesh’s No. 11 Shoriful Islam made 14, the top score of the innings, while the last five batters contributed 47.

Starc did full justice to Australia captain Pat Cummins‘ decision at the toss to bowl first. He had Shadman Islam caught at gully off the first ball of the match, with Cameron Green taking a good low catch. This was the fourth time that Starc had opened a Test match with a wicket, having done the same against Dimuth Karunaratne, Rory Burns and Yashasvi Jaiswal in the past. Shadman, meanwhile, joined Hannan Sarkar (three times) as the second Bangladesh opener to get out off first ball of a Test match.

Tanzid Hasan fell for a duck, too, when he edged Starc to Beau Webster at second slip. It was a nothing shot with no footwork, especially surprising from a batter who had scored a century in his previous Test. Tanzid has now got two ducks in a row after his breakthrough knock in Darwin.

Najmul Hossain Shanto, the Bangladesh captain, was given out lbw next ball. Shanto immediately took the review but umpire’s call worked in Starc’s favour. Mushfiqur Rahim prevented the hat-trick.

Starc then removed Mominul Haque, who played a poor shot without any movement of the feet, simply guiding an awaygoing delivery to Green at gully.

Starc’s five-for was completed when he trapped Litton Das lbw for a duck.

Webster had dropped Litton the previous ball, in what could be described as the simplest of chances in the slips, but Starc was relentless with his full deliveries. Bangladesh’s 12 for 5 was their lowest total at five down in a Test innings.

Mushfiqur lasted 41 balls before a Cummins delivery burst through his bat and pad, but Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Hasan Mahmud managed to prevent any further damage in the first session, which ended with Bangladesh at 35 for 6.

Cummins got Mehidy driving away from his body shortly after lunch, with Webster taking a diving catch to his right. At No. 7, Mehidy became the first batter in this innings to reach double digits.

Josh Hazlewood opened his account when Mahmud flicked him to leg gully after surviving 35 balls, before Cummins removed Taskin Ahmed, who skied the ball to Matt Renshaw at square leg. Three fours towards the end from Shoriful and Taijul Islam took Bangladesh past 43, their lowest total in Tests. Starc finished things up with Shoriful’s wicket, caught behind for 14.