Australia's bowling unit, led by Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, secured a 51‑run win over Bangladesh in the second Test at Mackay. The victory came after a disappointing defeat in Darwin.
Starc and Cummins delivered the key breakthroughs, dismantling the Bangladeshi batting lineup with disciplined pace and swing. Their performance was a timely reminder of the quality of Australia's pace attack ahead of the three‑test tour of South Africa in October.
Despite the bowling success, Australia's batting order continues to falter. Marnus Labuschagne, the South Africa‑born number three, was dismissed for four in Mackay by Shoriful Islam. The ball caught his thigh pad before hitting the stumps, a dismissal that highlighted Labuschagne’s vulnerability at the top of the order.
Labuschagne’s reaction was theatrical; he later took scissors to his thigh pad in an unusual gear modification. The incident, coupled with his earlier poor performances in Darwin, has led pundits to call for a change in the batting lineup.
Ex‑captain Ricky Ponting has suggested that replacements for Labuschagne should be considered, while others argue there is no urgency for further changes. The selectors will need to weigh the evidence before finalising the squad for the South African series.
