One morning session. One Australian fast bowler at his devastating best. One total that barely reads like a first-class score. Bangladesh came to Mackay carrying the confidence of history. They were one Test away from something no Bangladesh side had ever done. Then Mitchell Starc bowled 10 overs which was enough for Bangladesh Crumble for 64 in Mackay Test. And everything that had been built in Darwin was under serious threat.
Full Bangladesh First Innings Scorecard
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shadman Islam | c Green b Starc | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Tanzid Hasan | c Webster b Starc | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Mominul Haque | c Green b Starc | 9 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 56.25 |
| Shanto (c) | lbw b Starc | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Mushfiqur Rahim | b Cummins | 5 | 42 | 0 | 0 | 11.90 |
| Litton Das | lbw b Starc | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Mehidy Hasan Miraz | c Webster b Cummins | 11 | 51 | 1 | 0 | 21.56 |
| Hasan Mahmud | c Lyon b Hazlewood | 10 | 36 | 1 | 0 | 27.77 |
| Taijul Islam | not out | 11 | 26 | 2 | 0 | 42.30 |
| Taskin Ahmed | c Renshaw b Cummins | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14.28 |
| Shoriful Islam | c Carey b Starc | 14 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 73.68 |
| Extras | lb 1, nb 2 | 3 | ||||
| Total | 34 overs | 64 |
Bowling Figures
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Starc | 10 | 6 | 12 | 6 | 1.20 |
| Josh Hazlewood | 11 | 2 | 18 | 1 | 1.63 |
| Pat Cummins | 10 | 4 | 25 | 3 | 2.50 |
| Beau Webster | 3 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 2.66 |
Fall of Wickets
1-0 (Shadman, 0.1), 2-9 (Tanzid, 2.1), 3-9 (Shanto, 2.2), 4-10 (Mominul, 4.5), 5-12 (Litton, 6.4), 6-21 (Mushfiqur, 15.3), 7-36 (Mehidy, 24.3), 8-38 (Hasan Mahmud, 25.5), 9-39 (Taskin, 28.1), 10-64 (Shoriful, 33.6)
Starc’s 6 for 12: A Spell for the Ages
This was Mitchell Starc at his very best. Six wickets. Ten overs. Six maidens. Twelve runs conceded. An economy rate of 1.20. On any surface in any conditions, those figures represent outstanding Test bowling. On the Harrup Park surface in Mackay, with Bangladesh chasing a historic series win, they were extraordinary.
Starc had already torn through the top order when Bangladesh were 11 for 4. He did not stop there. He came back and removed Litton Das lbw for a duck in the sixth over. Then he returned for his final over and took his sixth wicket, having Shoriful Islam caught behind by Carey for 14. Six wickets spread across the entire innings, three at the top and three scattered through the lower order.
How the Collapse Unfolded in Full
The first four wickets fell in the first four overs. Shadman Islam faced one ball and edged to Green at slip. Tanzid Hasan lasted two balls before edging to Webster. Captain Shanto was lbw second ball for a duck. Mominul held on until the fifth over but his nine runs were the highest score in the top four.
Mushfiqur Rahim showed the most resistance of any Bangladesh batter. He faced 42 balls. He scored five. That tells you how difficult the conditions were throughout. No Bangladesh batter could get going on a morning that offered Starc and Cummins everything. Mehidy Hasan Miraz scored 11 off 51 balls as Bangladesh’s best contribution with the bat after the opening five wickets.
Cummins and Hazlewood Complete the Rout
Pat Cummins was almost as impressive as Starc without receiving the same headlines. His figures of 3 for 25 from ten overs with four maidens showed the same control from the other end that made scoring so difficult for Bangladesh throughout the morning.
He removed Mushfiqur, Mehidy, and Taskin to complete his three-wicket haul. Josh Hazlewood bowled 11 overs, took one wicket and conceded just 18 runs at an economy of 1.63. Australia’s three-pronged pace attack of Starc, Cummins, and Hazlewood collectively combined for six maidens shared between Starc’s six and Cummins’ four. Bangladesh’s batters never had any free hit.
Why 64 All Out Is So Significant
Bangladesh’s lowest-ever Test total is 43 against the West Indies in 2018. Their 64 at Mackay is their second-lowest total in Test cricket history. They have been bowled out under 100 before but never under such specific pressure. Coming into this match one win away from a historic series victory in Australia, this first innings total is as damaging as any in their history.
It is also the lowest first innings total in a Test at this venue, which is hosting its very first Test match. Mackay will be remembered for two records simultaneously. Bangladesh’s Darwin victory was their first Test win in Australia. Their Mackay first innings is one of their most painful collapses in Test history.
The journey that brought Bangladesh to this series-defining position in Australia began with historic victories in other formats, documented in our piece on Bangladesh making history with their first ODI series win over Australia. This Mackay first innings is the starkest possible reminder that Test cricket at the highest level can swing violently in either direction in the space of a single morning session.
Australia’s Response
Australia would have walked out to bat at Mackay knowing that any total above 200 would effectively secure first innings dominance and give them control of this Test. The psychological impact of bowling Bangladesh out for 64 cannot be overstated.
Bangladesh need a first innings lead or at minimum a close deficit to stay in this match. At 64 all out in 34 overs, they are staring at a first innings deficit that could reach 200 or more. If Australia bat properly, Bangladesh need a fourth innings miracle to save the series. The WTC implications of this match are significant for both nations.
Australia winning would preserve their series-level record against Bangladesh and give them crucial WTC points that matter in the broader cycle. The WTC points picture and what each result means for both nations’ Final qualification ambitions is explored in detail in our piece on the ICC World Test Championship 2025-2027 format and how it works.
The Contrast With Darwin
The contrast with Darwin is the defining narrative of this entire Test. Bangladesh won in Darwin by nine wickets. Hasan Mahmud took nine wickets. Australia collapsed. Bangladesh chased 57 for the loss of one wicket.
Now at Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay, Bangladesh have been bowled out for 64. Starc took six wickets. Cummins took three. Bangladesh’s batters could not cope. The same series. Different conditions. Completely reversed fortunes. Test cricket does not lie. It simply reveals which team handled the conditions better on a given day. On Day 1 at Mackay, Australia handled them completely.
Conclusion
Mitchell Starc took 6 for 12 in ten overs. Bangladesh were bowled out for 64 in 34 overs. Pat Cummins took three wickets. Josh Hazlewood took one. Australia have control of this Test before they have even batted. Bangladesh came to Mackay one win from history. They now need something extraordinary to avoid losing the series 1-1. Starc had other ideas. Mackay has given Australia exactly what Darwin denied them.
