Mitchell Starc claimed 10 wickets across the second Test to secure Australia's innings victory by 51 runs over Bangladesh in Mackay on 23 August 2026, ending the series level at 1-1 after the visitors' historic nine-wicket win in Darwin. The match concluded in just two days, with Australia dismissing Bangladesh for 64 and 95 either side of a first-innings total of 210—the fourth-lowest score in Test history to secure an innings victory. Starc finished with match figures of 10-51, combining his 6 for 12 in the first innings with 4 for 39 in the second.
This result came after Bangladesh's stunning nine-wicket triumph in Darwin on 16 August 2026, which had left Australia trailing 1-0 in the two-match series. The Mackay fixture marked only the 12th Australian venue to host a men's Test match, with Australia and Bangladesh meeting in a rare home winter Test series in northern Australia, hosting Bangladesh for the first time since 2003.
How did Starc dominate both Bangladesh innings?
Mitchell Starc produced a masterclass in swing bowling across the match, taking 10 wickets for the fourth time in his career. The 36-year-old left-arm paceman's brilliance on day one saw the visitors bowled out shortly after lunch, with Australia captain Pat Cummins's decision to bat first and insert the quicks proving immediately effective on a pitch prepared with the characteristics of a Gabba surface. On day two, Starc struck in his second over, removing opener Shadman Islam for one and Mominul Haque with successive deliveries to put himself on a hat-trick for the second time in the match. He later caught Tanzid Hasan at fine leg off Cummins's bowling and snapped up Litton Das, breaking the back of Bangladesh's second-innings batting. Bangladesh were skittled for 95 in 38.3 overs, with victory wrapped up just after tea on the second day at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay.
Starc was named Player of the Match and Series after his performance. "Much better week. We knew we weren't at our best, or what we expect of ourselves, in Darwin," the fast bowler said. "What we expect of ourselves this week is what we got, particularly with the ball and the wicket that aided us with the ball." Starc has now moved to 10th on the all-time Test wicket list with 445 wickets, 126 shy of Nathan Lyon's haul in sixth place.
How did Bangladesh fight back in Australia's innings?
Shoriful Islam delivered a career-defining performance with 7 for 48 in Australia's first innings, celebrating his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket after missing the Darwin match with a side strain. The fast bowler's figures were the best innings haul by a Bangladesh bowler away from home, surpassing left-arm spinner Taijul Islam's 7 for 138 in Harare in June. Shoriful dismantled Australia's top order by bowling opener Travis Head for 22 and out-of-form number three Marnus Labuschagne for 4, before trapping Steve Smith lbw for 44 to end a 77-run partnership with Cameron Green. One delivery that dismissed Cameron Green was described as an unplayable inswinger that struck him on the toe in front—a ball Pakistan great Wasim Akram would have been proud of.
How did Australia's batsmen respond?
All-rounder Cameron Green anchored Australia's recovery with 67 in the first innings, finishing the series with an aggregate of 184 runs—the best of either side—and securing his spot on the plane to South Africa for the three-Test series scheduled for October. Nathan Lyon contributed a valuable cameo of 32 in the second innings, taking two wickets in three balls after tea on day two to leave Mushfiqur Rahim stranded on 29 not out. Green and Lyon added 38 runs for the ninth wicket on day two, helping Australia establish the lead that proved decisive.
Captain Pat Cummins, 33, took 3 for 10 in Bangladesh's second innings and reflected on the turnaround. "A lot of things went right these couple days and a lot of things went wrong last week," he said. "We needed to bounce back, and it was a great couple of days from the lads. I thought everyone was sharp. It was a great start and we didn't really let up after that."
What does this mean for the series?
The second Test's conclusion draws the two-match series level at 1-1, with Australia levelling after Bangladesh's historic victory in Darwin. For the third time in seven matches, a Test in Australia has finished inside two days, highlighting the challenging conditions created by the pitches and the quality of bowling on display. Bangladesh's batting performances across both innings were poor, but the emergence of Shoriful Islam as a future star offers hope for the visitors' bowling attack in years to come. The 25-year-old tearaway, standing 190 centimetres tall, appears set to lead the attack for years to come.
What happens next?
Australia's next Test series is a three-match tour of world Test champions South Africa in October 2026. Cameron Green's strong performance in the series has secured his selection for that tour.
Key Facts
- Mitchell Starc took 10 wickets across the match (6 for 12 and 4 for 39) for the fourth time in his career and was named Player of the Match and Series
- Shoriful Islam claimed 7 for 48 in Australia's first innings, the best away figures by a Bangladesh bowler
- Australia's first-innings total of 210 was the fourth-lowest score in Test history to secure an innings victory
- Cameron Green finished the series with 184 runs, the highest aggregate of either side, securing his selection for South Africa
- The series ended 1-1 after Bangladesh's nine-wicket win in Darwin and Australia's two-day victory in Mackay
