Mitchell Starc was sensational in Mackay on Saturday, scoring a five-wicket haul in his first over as Australia's left-arm fast bowler tore through Bangladesh's innings in the second Test match.
Starc struck early and often as the left-hander sent down the opening ball at the Great Barrier Reef Arena and didn't give Bangladesh an inch. The left-arm speedster reaped a stunning reward for his efforts as Bangladesh was bundled out for a meager 64 in 34 overs.
Mitchell Starc's Devastating Opening Burst
22 balls, five wickets, one Mitchell Starc #AUSvBAN
Catch up on a stunning start: pic.twitter.com/JLTQq5EZO9
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) August 22, 2026
Australia were eager to respond after losing by an innings and nine wickets to Bangladesh in the opening Test in Darwin. Having won the toss and elected to bowl, captain Pat Cummins got the attack going on his own account, Starc taking a huge bag of wickets sensationally.
Shadman Islam became the first victim of Starc's opening delivery, edge catching an immediate duck. Interestingly enough, Starc joined some of the legends of the game, managing to take a wicket with the first ball of the Test match for the fourth time in his career.
Tanzid Hasan, who had remained unbeaten on a century in Bangladesh's historic win in Darwin, only survived for a couple of deliveries as the second batter was also out for a duck. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto followed Hasan in the following deliveries, also failing to score any runs, giving Starc the third duck of the innings, with Bangladesh already three wickets down in eight deliveries.
Mominul Haque seemed to steady the innings, scoring a couple of runs in the first over, but Starc returned to the attack and trapped the captain in front for his fourth wicket. Nathan Green dropped a straightforward chance, but Starc didn't allow the Bangladesh batsmen to continue their scoring.
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The pacer had Litton Das caught at long-on, finishing his spectacular spell in the first session with a five-wicket haul. Four of Starc's victims were ducks, with Bangladesh in dire straits for 29/5.
Starc finished the first session with five wickets for 11 runs from nine overs, and Cummins removed another opener as Mushfiqur Rahim fell for the sixth wicket by lunch, with Australia down 35/6.
Starc's five-wicket haul saw him equal some bowling feats, including Ernie Toshack's, Stuart Broad's and Scott Boland's, who bagged five wickets in 19 deliveries. Shane Watson also took five wickets in 21 deliveries against South Africa in 2011.
Starc was also able to pass Dale Steyn on the all-time Test wickets list by taking the crucial wicket of Mushfiqur Rahim.
“I think the frustration from the first Test actually fueled it, to be honest. Six in the first session, can't beat that,” said Starc to his wife and former Australia women's captain Alyssa Healy from the ground as he left the pitch.
“Obviously a little bit of anger. It's worked well so far, hopefully we can keep it up.
Having suffered a blow from the first Test in Darwin, Australia responded stunningly in Mackay. With Starc destroying the top order of Bangladesh's batting, the visitors were faced with a potentially crushing defeat in the second Test.