The Albany Gazette - Starc takes 5-11 to leave Bangladesh reeling in 2nd Test

Skipper Pat Cummins won the toss on a fine day in Mackay and his bowlers made the most of early moisture on the wicket, determined to bounce back from a shock nine-wicket loss in the first Test at Darwin.

An irrepressible Starc was the destroyer in an incredible spell of swing and seam to bag 5-11 off nine overs.

At the break, Mehidy Hasan Miraz was unbeaten on 11 and Hasan Mahmud eight not out as Bangladesh edge towards avoiding their lowest Test score, which was 43 against the West Indies in 2018.

Australia made a stunning start when Starc removed Shadman Islam with the first ball of the day, tempting a leading edge that Cameron 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 Hasan packing with the first ball of his second over, caught at slip by Beau Webster, then trapped captain Najmul Hossain Shanto lbw with his next delivery.

It left the visitors reeling at 3-9 in the third over.

The experienced Mushfiqur Rahim fended off Starc's hat-trick ball, but he was unstoppable and grabbed his 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 low to Green in the gully on nine.

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

It was the 19th time Starc has taken five wickets in an innings and achieved in just 22 balls -- the sixth fastest of all-time.

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

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

(P.Clark--TAG)