Starc's Historic Opening Spell
Mitchell Starc Makes History as Australia Dismantles Bangladesh Early in Second Test Match
Key Points
Bangladesh still lead the two-Test series 1-0 after their Darwin win, meaning Australia must win Mackay to level the series.
Mitchell Starc moved to 439 career Test wickets, tying Dale Steyn for 10th on the all-time list.
Starc now has four first-ball wickets in the history of Test cricket, the most by any player in 149 years, with earlier examples against Sri Lanka (Dimuth Karunaratne, 2016), England (Rory Burns, 2021) and India (Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2024).
Cummins' decision to bowl first in Mackay drew backlash after Darwin, but the Mackay start and Starc’s spell are cited as vindicating the call.
Mitchell Starc dismantled Bangladesh's top order in devastating fashion, taking five wickets in his first four overs of the second Test in Mackay, Queensland. The left-armer struck immediately, removing opener Shadman Islam on the very first ball of the match—a historic fourth first-ball wicket in his Test career Reuters. Bangladesh slumped to 12 for five as Starc also claimed captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, Litton Das (lbw), and Mominul Haque in a brutal opening spell that lasted just 43 minutes Sporting News.
The spell came after Australia captain Pat Cummins won the toss and chose to bowl on a lively pitch similar to the Gabba. Australia trails 0-1 in the two-match series following their shock loss in Darwin, making Mackay a must-win to level the series. Starc's performance vindicated Cummins' aggressive bowling decision and gave Australia a crucial opportunity to bounce back The Chronicle.
Starc Ties Dale Steyn on All-Time Wicket List
Starc's five-wicket haul moved him to 439 career Test wickets, tying South African legend Dale Steyn for 10th place on the all-time list Reuters. The 34-year-old has been Australia's spearhead for years, but this performance ranks among his most devastating. His opening spell of 5 for 5 off six overs shows he remains a force in Test cricket despite his age.
First-Ball Wicket Record Stands Alone
Starc now holds the unique distinction of taking a first-ball wicket on four separate occasions in Test cricket—the most in 149 years of the sport Sporting News. His previous first-ball victims were Sri Lanka's Dimuth Karunaratne (2016), England's Rory Burns (2021), and India's Yashasvi Jaiswal (2024). No other player in Test history has achieved this feat more than twice, cementing Starc's status as an extraordinary match-starter.
Bangladesh Faces Uphill Battle After Early Collapse
Bangladesh brought in pacer Shoriful Islam to replace injured Ebadot Hossain, hoping for a stronger start than their Mackay openers delivered Head Topics. The 12 for five collapse left the team reeling after their confidence-boosting win in Darwin just days earlier. Bangladesh still lead the series 1-0, but another loss would seal a consolation defeat and shift momentum firmly to Australia heading into the off-season.
Australia's Bowling Attack Delivers on Lively Pitch
Captain Cummins' decision to bowl first faced criticism after Darwin's loss, but the Mackay conditions validated the call. The pitch offered pace bowlers genuine assistance, reminiscent of Brisbane's Gabba ground Head Topics. With Starc setting the tone early, Australia's entire attack can build pressure. Matt Renshaw's return to open for Australia shows the hosts are intent on strengthening their batting depth for the fightback.
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