The Prague Post - Australia lead by 101 in 2nd Bangladesh Test as 18 wickets fall on day one

Home skipper Pat Cummins won the toss in Mackay and his pacemen feasted, determined to bounce back from a shock nine-wicket loss in the first Test at Darwin.

They skittled Bangladesh for 64 with an irrepressible Starc the destroyer in an incredible spell of swing and seam, taking five wickets in 22 balls during the morning session to end with 6-12 from 10 overs.

Only a last-wicket partnership of 25 between Taijul Islam (11 not out) and Shoriful (14) took Bangladesh past their lowest Test score of 43, which came against the West Indies in 2018.

In reply, Australia stumbled to 165-8 at stumps with Darwin century-maker Cameron Green standing tall on 51 alongside Nathan Lyon (10). Shoriful, who missed the first Test injured, was the hero with a career-best 6-35.

"It was just getting our lengths a bit fuller, using the bouncer a bit more and holding onto our catches," said Starc.

Josh Hazlewood had nothing but praise for his long-term bowling partner, calling him "phenomenal".

"He just gets on a roll sometimes. Amazing to watch," he said.

Australia started well in reply but then lost three wickets for 19 runs.

Matt Renshaw, recalled for the first time since 2023 when opener Jake Weatherald was axed after Darwin, failed to repay selectors' faith, gone for eight after edging Taskin Ahmed to Tanzid Hasan at third slip.

Fellow opener Travis Head (22) was bowled by Shoriful before he repeated the feat with under-pressure Marnus Labuschagne (four), who was desperate for a big score.

Steve Smith looked set, methodically compiling 42, but he was undone by a fuller length Shoriful delivery that hit him on the pads.

Alex Carey (five) holed out off Mehidy Hasan Miraz before Shoriful struck again, trapping Beau Webster lbw without scoring and Cummins two balls later, caught by wicketkeeper Litton Das.

Fired up, he then bowled Starc for one to keep Bangladesh in the hunt.

"It's what I did in practice, and I just wanted to do the same in the match," said Shoriful.

- Reeling -

Australia made a stunning start when Starc removed Shadman Islam with the first ball of the day, tempting a leading edge that Green did well to hold in the gully.

It was the fourth time the veteran left-armer has got a wicket with the maiden ball of a Test -- becoming the first player to do so -- and the ninth time he has achieved the feat in the opening over.

The 36-year-old sent Bangladesh's other opener Tanzid packing with the first ball of his second over, caught at slip by Webster, then trapped captain Najmul Hossain Shanto lbw with his next delivery.

It left Bangladesh reeling at 3-9.

The experienced Mushfiqur Rahim fended off Starc's hat-trick ball, but he was unstoppable and grabbed a fourth wicket in his third over.

This time, Mominul Haque was the victim in a similar dismissal to Shadman, undone by late swing to send a thick edge to Green on nine.

Webster dropped a sitter at slip off Starc in his fourth over, but Das's luck ran out next ball, out lbw on review as the visitors slumped to 5-12.

It was the 19th five-wicket haul for Starc and the sixth fastest of all-time.

Starc holds the record after taking five in 15 balls against the West Indies in 2025.

Mushfiqur hung around for 41 deliveries but had no answer when Cummins came on, bowled for five.

Cummins struck again after lunch to dismiss Miraz on 11, taken brilliantly by Webster in the slips, before Hazlewood took care of Hasan Mahmud (10).

Bangladesh moved past their lowest Test score as the tailenders hit out, before Starc fittingly wrapped it up.

B.Barton--TPP