In a devastating opening spell, Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc ripped through the Bangladesh batting lineup, claiming five wickets in just 45 minutes of play. The searing pace and late swing from the left-arm quick left Bangladesh in disarray, reeling at 35 for 6 by the lunch interval. At one point, the visitors had slumped to a precarious 12 for 5, a testament to Starc’s overwhelming dominance.
Starc’s Unstoppable Pace
This explosive performance marked the second time in recent years that Starc, Test cricket’s most successful left-arm bowler, had dismantled a top-order batting lineup with remarkable speed. He achieved his five-wicket haul against Bangladesh in a mere 22 deliveries. This followed a similarly rapid five-for he took off just 15 balls against the West Indies the previous year. The onslaught began almost immediately after Australian captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bowl first.
Early Wickets Fall Rapidly
Starc’s first victim was Shadman Islam, who was squared up by a delivery that swung inwards before straightening. Islam’s outside edge carried to Cameron Green at gully, who completed a diving catch to his left. This wicket was particularly noteworthy as it was the fourth time Starc had taken a wicket on the very first ball of a Test match, having previously dismissed Dimuth Karunaratne, Rory Burns, and Yashasvi Jaiswal in similar fashion. Furthermore, it was the ninth instance of Starc claiming a wicket within the first over of a Test innings.
Shadman Islam’s dismissal also placed him in the record books for Bangladesh, joining Hannan Sarkar as the second opener for the nation to be out first ball in a Test. Sarkar had experienced this fate three times, all against Pedro Collins of the West Indies.
A Hat-Trick Scare and Continued Dominance
Starc’s second wicket came on the first ball of his second over, with Tanzid Hasan guiding the delivery to Beau Webster at second slip. This was an uncharacteristic shot from Hasan, who had scored a century in his preceding Test, but it added to his tally of consecutive ducks following his breakthrough performance in Darwin.
The very next ball saw Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto given out leg before wicket (lbw). Shanto immediately opted for a review, but the umpire’s call stood, leaving the captain visibly frustrated. Although Mushfiqur Rahim managed to survive the hat-trick ball, the collapse continued shortly after.
Mominul Haque, who had managed to strike two boundaries, played a shot towards the slips without significant footwork. The ball was just held by Green at gully, another instance of a top-order batter attempting to play at a wide delivery without proper foot placement.
Starc completed his five-wicket haul in the subsequent over, trapping Litton Das lbw for a duck. Earlier, Webster had dropped a relatively simple chance off Das. The on-field umpire, Kumar Dharmasena, raised his finger, and the decision was upheld by the TV umpire, Richard Illingworth, after three red lights confirmed the lbw.
Lowest Score and Late Resistance
Bangladesh’s score of 12 for 5 represented their lowest-ever total when losing half their side in a Test innings. The situation looked dire for the visitors.
However, the pairing of Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Bangladesh’s last recognized batting partnership, managed to stem the tide for the next ten overs. Their resistance was characterized by predominantly defensive strokes and a few close calls, both outside the off-stump and off the inside edge. This period of stability eventually ended when Australian captain Pat Cummins found an edge that went through Mushfiqur’s bat and pad.
Despite the earlier collapse, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Hasan Mahmud were able to survive the remaining 7.4 overs of the session, demonstrating the importance of leaving the ball appropriately and offering a glimmer of resilience for Bangladesh.
Conclusion
Mitchell Starc’s electrifying spell set the tone for the Test match, leaving Bangladesh in a precarious position. His ability to take wickets in rapid succession highlights his potent threat, particularly with the new ball. While the lower order showed some grit, the early damage inflicted by Starc will undoubtedly shape the remainder of the contest.
