The first day of the Australia vs Bangladesh 2nd Test in Mackay produced complete chaos for the batters. Eighteen wickets fell as the fast bowlers enjoyed plenty of assistance, with Mitchell Starc and Shoriful Islam taking six wickets each.
Bangladesh were bowled out for just 64 in 34 overs after being asked to bat first. At that stage, it looked like Australia had taken complete control of the Test. Starc returned sensational figures of 6/12 from 10 overs, including six maidens.
But Bangladesh did not surrender.
Their response with the ball was one of the biggest highlights of Australia vs Bangladesh 2nd Test Day 1. Shoriful produced one of the finest spells of his Test career as Australia were reduced to 165/8 by stumps despite Cameron Green’s fighting half-century.
Australia ended the opening day with a lead of 101 runs, but Bangladesh’s bowlers ensured the hosts could not run away with the match.
Australia vs Bangladesh 2nd Test Day 1: Starc Destroys Bangladesh
Conditions in Mackay were extremely difficult for batting. There was movement in the air and off the surface, while the extra bounce also made life uncomfortable.
Starc needed only one delivery to strike.
Shadman Islam was dismissed from the opening ball of the Test, and the Australian left-arm pacer simply did not stop after that.
Bangladesh quickly slipped to 12/5. Mominul Haque made nine, while Najmul Hossain Shanto and Tanzid Hasan were both dismissed without scoring. Litton Das also fell for a duck.
Starc completed his five-wicket haul in just 22 deliveries and eventually finished with 6/12.
Bangladesh were 39/9 at one stage before Taijul Islam and Shoriful added 25 runs for the final wicket. Shoriful, batting at No.11, actually finished as Bangladesh’s top scorer with 14.
That tells you almost everything about how difficult the conditions were.
Bangladesh were eventually dismissed for 64, their lowest Test total against Australia.
Shoriful Islam Gives Australia a Taste of Their Own Medicine
A score of 64 should normally put a team almost completely out of a Test match, particularly in Australia.
Bangladesh’s bowlers, however, refused to let that happen.
Taskin Ahmed gave them the first breakthrough by removing Matt Renshaw for eight. Australia were 22/1, and that wicket opened the door for Shoriful to attack.
Shoriful then removed Travis Head for 22 and Marnus Labuschagne for four in quick succession.
Suddenly, Australia were 41/3 and Bangladesh were back in the contest.
This was exactly the response Bangladesh needed after such a poor batting performance.
The Mackay surface was offering plenty to Australia’s pace attack, but the same conditions were always going to bring Bangladesh’s quick bowlers into the game as well.
If Australia wanted a surface with pace, swing and seam movement, their own batters also had to survive it.
They struggled to do so.
Steve Smith and Cameron Green Try to Rebuild
Steve Smith and Cameron Green were the two Australian batters who looked capable of handling the conditions for a considerable period.
Smith made 42 from 74 deliveries with six fours. He had done the difficult work and was beginning to settle when Shoriful returned to remove him lbw.
That was a massive wicket for Bangladesh because Smith looked like Australia’s best chance of taking the game completely away from them.
Green continued fighting from the other end.
He became the only batter on the opening day to reach fifty, an important effort considering how much assistance the bowlers were getting throughout the day.
Australia eventually reached 164/8 at stumps, with Green unbeaten.
The other Australian batters could not make their starts count. Head scored 22, Renshaw eight and Labuschagne four, while Alex Carey managed only five.
Beau Webster and Pat Cummins were dismissed for ducks, while Starc made just one.
Shoriful Islam's 6/31 Keeps Bangladesh Fighting
Shoriful was almost unplayable at different stages of the Australian innings.
The left-arm pacer finished Day 1 with six wickets for 31 runs, matching Starc’s six-wicket haul earlier in the day.
His victims included Head, Labuschagne, Smith, Webster, Cummins and Starc.
There was also variety in the way he took his wickets.
He brought the ball back into the batters, used his left-arm angle effectively and continued to attack the stumps.
Against Cummins, he changed his approach with a short delivery and forced the Australian captain into an uncomfortable dismissal.
Taskin also played an important role. His early dismissal of Renshaw prevented Australia from getting a completely free start and gave Bangladesh something to work with before Shoriful took over.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz also contributed by removing Carey for five.
Bangladesh had been bowled out for 64, yet Australia still lost eight wickets before the close.
That says plenty about both the conditions and Bangladesh’s mentality.
Bangladesh’s Fast-Bowling Growth Cannot Be Ignored
Perhaps the biggest positive for Bangladesh from this series has been their pace attack.
For years, Bangladesh cricket has largely been associated with spin-friendly conditions and quality spin bowling. But this Australian tour is showing that the team now has fast bowlers capable of creating problems away from home.
Hasan Mahmud played a major role in Bangladesh’s historic victory in Darwin. In Mackay, it was Shoriful’s turn to lead the attack.
That is important for Bangladesh.
Winning Test matches in Australia, England, South Africa or New Zealand requires fast bowlers who can consistently challenge good batters. Bangladesh appear to be developing that group.
The batting remains a major concern, and being dismissed for 64 cannot simply be ignored.
However, what Bangladesh have shown in this series is their willingness to fight even when the situation looks almost impossible.
That mentality was once again visible in Mackay.
Starc and Shoriful Dominate Extraordinary Day for Fast Bowlers
Starc and Shoriful produced two excellent spells on the same day, and their figures show just how difficult batting was.
Mitchell Starc: 10 overs, 6 maidens, 12 runs, 6 wickets
Shoriful Islam: 6 wickets for 31 runs
Starc’s spell was particularly destructive with the new ball. He took a wicket from the first delivery of the match and completed his five-for in only 22 balls.
Shoriful’s spell was different because of the situation in which it came.
Bangladesh had only 64 runs to defend. There was almost no margin for error.
Instead of allowing Australia to build a huge lead, Shoriful attacked their batting line-up and gave Bangladesh some hope heading into Day 2.
Australia Lead by 101, But Bangladesh Earn Respect Again
Australia remain in the stronger position.
A 100-run lead on this surface is already valuable, and Green is still at the crease. Bangladesh will need to remove the final two wickets quickly on Day 2 before facing Australia’s pace attack for a second time.
But the scorecard does not tell the entire story of Day 1.
Bangladesh were 64 all out.
They could easily have dropped their heads after Starc’s devastating spell. Instead, their bowlers came out and reduced Australia to 164/8.
That is the fight Bangladesh have shown throughout this tour.
There is a clear difference between losing a cricket match and surrendering. Bangladesh may still lose the Mackay Test, but they have once again shown that they are prepared to compete.
The first Test victory in Darwin proved they can hurt Australia in their own conditions. The opening day in Mackay showed that it was not simply a one-match effort.
On Australia vs Bangladesh 2nd Test Day 1Starc produced a world-class spell, Green played the best batting innings of the day, but Shoriful’s 6/31 ensured Bangladesh walked away with plenty of credit.
Australia have the advantage. Bangladesh, however, are still fighting.