Mitchell Starc produced a devastating opening spell in Mackay on Saturday, ripping through Bangladesh’s top order to claim five wickets in the first session of the second Test and move past South African great Dale Steyn on the list of Test wicket-takers.
Starc struck with the very first delivery of the match at the Great Barrier Reef Arena, removing opener Shadman Islam after a leading edge carried to gully. It was the fourth time the left-arm quick had taken a wicket with the opening ball of a Test.
Bangladesh was in serious trouble after Starc's opening spell, with the team losing five wickets for just 29 runs. Starc completed his five-wicket haul by trapping Litton Das lbw, leaving Bangladesh reeling.
Captain Pat Cummins then joined the destruction, bowling Mushfiqur Rahim to reduce the visitors to 35 for six at lunch. Starc walked off with remarkable figures of 5-11 from nine overs.
The spell also took Starc past Steyn’s 439 Test wickets. Starc moved to 440 wickets, strengthening his position among the most successful fast bowlers in Test history.
Australia made one change for the second Test, replacing Jake Weatherald with Matt Renshaw, while Bangladesh brought in Shoriful Islam for Ebadot Hossain. The match is the beginning of a demanding 12-month period for Australia, with the team scheduled to play 20 Tests, including tours of South Africa, India and England.
The performance was particularly significant for Australia after Bangladesh stunned them in the opening Test in Darwin. Bangladesh won that match to take a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series, putting pressure on the Australian side and its selectors.
Starc's achievement was celebrated by his wife, television commentator and former Australia captain Alyssa Healy, with whom he shared a moment of triumph after the match. "Six in the first session, can't beat that," Starc told Healy while leaving the field. "Obviously a little bit of anger. It’s worked well so far, hopefully we can keep it up."
The match is set to continue, with Australia looking to take control of the second Test and level the series.
Source: Yahoo Sports