Starc, Islam’s six-wicket hauls highlight Australia-Bangladesh day one

MACKAY, Australia (AP):

Mitchell Starc removed Bangladesh opener Shadman Islam with the first ball of the match, and the veteran Australian fast bowler went on to take six wickets in the first innings on a dramatic opening day of the second Test yesterday.

Later, Shoriful Islam remarkably matched Starc’s haul with six wickets of his own on a day that saw 18 wickets fall. The left-arm Bangladesh fast bowler recently returned from a side strain that ruled him out of the first Test.

After Australia won the toss and chose to bowl, captain Pat Cummins suggested that “the wicket looks pretty good, but if there is any moisture in it, it might be this morning.” Starc quickly proved him right as Bangladesh were bowled out for 64 shortly after lunch.

The pitch, however, continued to pose problems for batters well beyond the opening session.

In reply, Australia reached 165-8 at stumps for a lead of 101 runs despite Shoriful Islam’s figures of 6-35. Cameron Green was unbeaten on 51, with Nathan Lyon not out on 10.

Shadman Islam was caught in the gully off a leading edge to give Starc a record fourth career wicket with the first ball of a Test match. Starc then removed Tanzid Hasan and trapped captain Najmul Hossain Shanto lbw in the third over, leaving Bangladesh, surprise winners of the first Test in the two-match series, in trouble.

Starc claimed his fourth wicket when Cameron Green took a low catch to dismiss Mominul Haque for nine, the only Bangladesh batter among the top four to score. His fifth wicket came when he trapped Litton Das lbw, and he collected his sixth shortly after lunch.

Starc finished with figures of 6-12 from 10 overs, while Cummins took three wickets. Bangladesh’s total was the lowest by a team batting first in Australia since South Africa were dismissed for 36 in 1932.

The highest score in the Bangladesh innings came from number 11 batter Shoriful Islam, who made 14.

“Six (wickets) in the first session, can’t beat that,” Starc told his wife, television commentator and former Australia captain Alyssa Healy, while walking off the field at lunch. “Obviously a little bit of anger.”

Australia announced a 13-man squad earlier this week and made one change for the second Test. Jake Weatherald was omitted and Matt Renshaw recalled, but the opener was dismissed for eight early in Australia’s innings.

The match began under sunny skies at Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay, a coastal city in Queensland about 800 kilometres (500 miles) north of Brisbane.

Bangladesh’s first-ever Test win in Australia increased pressure on national selectors to overhaul the squad, but the core of the ageing team was retained despite being outplayed in Darwin, where players such as Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Tanzid Hasan took advantage of the tropical conditions.

The two-Test Top End series marks the start of a demanding 12-month schedule for Australia that will include 20 Test matches, with tours of South Africa, India and England among the highlights.