Mitchell Starc continues to defy the passage of time. At 36, the Australian left-arm quick produced another devastating performance on home soil, claiming 10 wickets in the second Test against Bangladesh to power Australia to an innings-and-51-run victory inside two days.Starc finished with match figures of 10/51, following his sensational 6/12 in the first innings with four more wickets in Bangladesh’s second essay. His performance not only helped Australia bounce back from their shock nine-wicket defeat in Darwin but also moved him to 10th on the all-time Test wicket-takers’ list with 445 scalps, overtaking South Africa great Dale Steyn.The veteran pacer showed his intent from the very first delivery of the match, removing Shadman Islam with the opening ball. It was the fourth occasion on which Starc had taken a wicket with the first delivery of a Test. He then tore through Bangladesh’s top order, reducing them to 12/5 before finishing with 6/12.Starc admitted that while age is advancing, his appetite for Test cricket remains as strong as ever.“I thoroughly enjoy being part of this group. Test cricket, I have said it before, Tests will always be the pinnacle for me and later on when we get to sing the song and he (Nathan Lyon) is leading it, that is one of the main reasons why we like to do it, love to do it. So, yeah, I would like to milk my body for all I can for Test cricket,” Mitchell starc said after winning player of the series award.The left-armer also acknowledged Bangladesh’s performance in the series but felt Australia were significantly better across the two days in Mackay.“What we expect from ourselves this week is what we got, particularly with the ball on a wicket that aided us with the ball. So, yeah, one-all series, but a much better week for us,” Starc added.Starc’s latest landmark also took him into the top 10 of Test cricket’s leading wicket-takers. However, the fast bowler was quick to play down the achievement, with teammate Nathan Lyon reminding him that he still has plenty of ground to cover.“I do not know yet. I am still playing. Nathan (Lyon) did remind me that I have just stepped on the first rung of the ladder and he is still up there looking down on me. So, still got a way to go,” he said.
Match highlights
Australia’s decision to bowl first after winning the toss paid immediate dividends. Starc removed Shadman with the opening delivery before striking again in the third over to dismiss Tanzid Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto in quick succession. Bangladesh were eventually bowled out for just 64, with Starc taking 6/12.Australia did not have it easy with the bat on a testing Mackay surface. Shoriful Islam produced a superb spell for Bangladesh, claiming a career-best seven wickets in the match, while Australia were dismissed for 210. Cameron Green’s 67 proved crucial in giving the hosts a sizeable enough lead.Bangladesh began their second innings with another collapse. Starc struck twice among the first three wickets, while Nathan Lyon removed captain Shanto after a brief 31-run resistance. Mushfiqur Rahim fought hard with an unbeaten 29, but Bangladesh were bowled out for 95.Starc finished the job with four second-innings wickets, while Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon claimed three each as Australia wrapped up the Test by an innings and 51 runs.The emphatic victory levelled the two-match series 1-1 after Bangladesh had secured a historic nine-wicket win in Darwin in the opening Test.
