Australia vs Bangladesh second Test highlights: Starc's ten-wicket haul levels the series

Australia levelled the two-match Test series against Bangladesh by winning the second Test at Mackay, played from August 22 to 26, 2026. The result restored parity after Australia had suffered a heavy defeat in the first Test at Darwin, where Bangladesh won by 9 wickets.

Australia's premier pacer Mitchell Starc was the central figure in their turnaround. The left-arm pacer finished with a ten-wicket haul across Bangladesh's two innings, producing one of the most impactful individual bowling performances of the series.

Pat Cummins won the toss and chose to bowl first, a decision that paid off immediately. Starc removed Bangladesh opener Shadman Islam with the very first ball of the match, setting the tone for everything that followed.

Bangladesh were dismissed for just 64 runs in 34 overs in their first innings, their fourth-lowest total in Test cricket. Starc was the primary architect of that collapse, returning figures of 6 for 12 in the innings.

The left-armer was relentless during his opening spell. He took five wickets in just 22 deliveries on the opening day, giving Bangladesh's batters no opportunity to settle. His dismissal of Shadman Islam off the first ball of the match had already signalled his intent, and he continued to extract movement and pace throughout the innings.

Shoriful Islam offered Bangladesh a response by taking 6 wickets in Australia's first innings, keeping the visitors in the contest at that stage. However, Starc's continued threat in the second innings proved too much for Bangladesh to handle, and Australia eventually secured the win.

Australia's victory in Mackay was a significant recovery after the first Test at Darwin, where Bangladesh's 9-wicket win had been described as a humiliating result for the home side. The second Test was effectively a must-win for Australia to avoid a series defeat on home soil.

Starc's ten-wicket haul across the match was the decisive factor in Australia's win. His ability to take wickets in clusters, including five in 22 deliveries on the opening day, prevented Bangladesh from building any meaningful partnerships across either innings.

The series ended level at one win apiece. Starc was named Player of the Match for his performance in the second Test. He was also named Player of the Series for leading the comeback for the Aussies.