Starc puts Australia in command after Bangladesh collapse

Mitchell Starc delivered a devastating opening spell in Mackay on Saturday, taking five wickets in the first session of the second Test and propelling Australia into a dominant position against Bangladesh.

Australia chose to bowl after winning the toss, with captain Pat Cummins anticipating early assistance for the seamers from moisture in the surface at Great Barrier Reef Arena. Starc immediately exploited the conditions, dismissing Shadman Islam with the first delivery of the match after a leading edge carried to gully. It was the fourth time the left-arm fast bowler had taken a wicket with the opening ball of a Test.

Starc struck again in his third over when Tanzid Hasan departed, before trapping Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto lbw. Mominul Haque followed after Nathan Green held a sharp low catch, and Litton Das was then dismissed lbw to complete Starc's five-wicket haul.

Bangladesh reached lunch at 35 for six, with Starc finishing the session with remarkable figures of 5-11 from nine overs. Cummins added to the damage by bowling Mushfiqur Rahim.

“Obviously a little bit of anger. It’s worked well so far, hopefully we can keep it up,” Starc said after leaving the field.

Starc moves ahead of Dale Steyn

The spell also took Starc to 440 Test wickets, moving him past South African great Dale Steyn's 439 and into fifth place among fast bowlers in Test cricket. Only James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Glenn McGrath and Courtney Walsh have taken more wickets among pace bowlers.

Starc's performance came at a crucial moment for Australia, who suffered a surprise defeat to Bangladesh in the opening Test in Darwin and began the second match 1-0 down in the two-Test series. Australia made one change to its lineup, bringing in Matt Renshaw for Jake Weatherald, while Bangladesh selected Shoriful Islam in place of Ebadot Hossain.

The second Test begins a demanding 12-month schedule for Australia, which includes 20 Tests and tours of South Africa, India and England. For now, however, Starc's early burst has left Bangladesh battling to avoid a heavy defeat in Mackay.