Australia crush Bangladesh to level series; Test ends in two days as Mitchell Starc takes 10 wickets

MACKAY: Australia bounced back strongly from their unexpected defeat in the first Test with a dominant victory over Bangladesh in the second Test. Australia beat Bangladesh by an innings and 51 runs to level the series. Mitchell Starc took a total of 10 wickets as Australia wrapped up the match within two days.

It is rare for a Test match to finish within two days. Of the 2,632 Tests played so far, only 28 have ended inside two days. The Mackay Test has now joined that list.

Of the 275 Tests played between 1877 and 1946, 15 ended within two days. However, none of the 1,233 Tests played between 1947 and 1999 finished in two days. Since 2000, 13 of the 1,124 Tests have ended within two days.

The Mackay Test is the 28th two-day Test in the history of Test cricket. The previous Test to finish within two days was Australia’s match against England in Perth in November 2025.

Starc takes 10 wickets

Mitchell Starc’s superb bowling was the main reason behind Australia’s victory. He took 10 wickets across Bangladesh’s two innings, conceding just 51 runs.

In Bangladesh’s first innings, Starc took six wickets for just 12 runs as the visitors were bowled out for 64. He added four more wickets in the second innings to complete his 10-wicket haul in the match. This is Starc’s fourth 10-wicket haul in Test cricket.

The performance took Starc’s Test wicket tally to 445. He moved past South African pace legend Dale Steyn to become the 10th-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket. Starc, who took 12 wickets across the two Tests, was named Player of the Series.

Bangladesh bowled out for 95

After winning the first Test in Darwin, Bangladesh struggled badly in the second match. Nine of their batsmen failed to reach double figures. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was their top scorer with 31, while Mushfiqur Rahim remained unbeaten on 29.

Bangladesh faced only 72.3 overs across their two innings. While Starc took 10 wickets, Australia captain Pat Cummins claimed six wickets in the match.