Bangladesh lose Mackay Test by innings and 51 runs, Shanto cites lack of best performance
Synopsis
Bangladesh's historic Darwin win lasted exactly one Test. In Mackay, they were bowled out for 64 and 95 inside two days, handing Australia a series-levelling innings victory. The series ended 1-1, but the real story is Shoriful Islam's 7/48 — the best figures by an overseas bowler in Australia in over 30 years — buried inside a heavy defeat.
Key Takeaways
Bangladesh lost the second Test in Mackay by an innings and 51 runs , levelling the series 1-1 .
Bangladesh were bowled out for 64 and 95 ; the match lasted just 750 balls and finished inside two days.
Mitchell Starc took 10 wickets in the match; Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon took three each in the second innings.
Shoriful Islam's 7/48 is the best figures by an overseas bowler in Australia since Curtly Ambrose's 7/25 in Perth in 1993 .
Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto called for more frequent overseas tours, noting Bangladesh have visited Australia just twice in 23 years .
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto conceded that his side failed to deliver their best cricket after suffering a heavy innings-and-51-run defeat to Australia in the second Test at Mackay on Sunday, 23 August, a result that levelled the two-match series 1-1.
How the Match Unfolded
The Test was over in a flash — just 750 balls bowled across fewer than two full days. Bangladesh were dismissed for 64 in their first innings and could only muster 95 in the second, never threatening to make Australia bat again. Mitchell Starc was the chief destroyer, claiming 10 wickets in the match, while Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon each took three wickets in the second innings.
The defeat came as a sharp reversal after Bangladesh's historic nine-wicket victory in the opening Test in Darwin — a result that had briefly placed them in front in the series.
Shanto's Assessment
'Yeah, obviously I think we all know how good they are and, as I said in the press conference, they have been experienced for almost 50, more than 50 years. So yeah, they played, they showed their character, and as the Bangladesh Test team, we didn't play our best match,' Shanto said after the loss.
He pointed to the contrasting conditions between the two venues as a significant factor. 'This is a different condition, and there is a little bit more extra bounce and swing in the air. So it's challenging for us. But as a team, if we want to go forward, we need to adjust to this condition, and I hope this experience will help going forward,' he added.
A Bright Spot: Shoriful Islam's Historic Haul
Despite the batting collapse, Bangladesh's bowlers offered a rare highlight. Shoriful Islam returned figures of 7/48 — the best by an overseas bowler in Australia since Curtly Ambrose took 7/25 in Perth in 1993. Shanto also praised Taskin Ahmed and Hasan Mahmud for their efforts on a pitch he described as genuinely difficult for batters on both sides.
'If you look at their batting also, they also struggled and the way Shoriful, Taskin and Hasan bowled, really happy to see them and it's quite a difficult wicket to bat, to be very honest,' Shanto said.
The Case for More Overseas Exposure
Shanto was candid about the structural challenge Bangladesh face: infrequent tours to demanding conditions make consistent improvement difficult. 'Not long, long term, like 23 years of coming here and playing two Test matches. It's not easy. So if we have that chance to play every single year, it will help us to improve our game,' he said.
He also struck a note of pride despite the series result, saying the Darwin win demonstrated Bangladesh's character and discipline, and urged consistency going forward. With the series now squared, Bangladesh return home with one historic Test win, one sobering lesson, and a growing argument for a more regular place on Australia's future Test calendar.
Point of View
Bangladesh need a bilateral tour every two to three years, not every decade.
NationPress
23 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of the Bangladesh vs Australia second Test in Mackay?
Australia won the second Test in Mackay by an innings and 51 runs, bowling Bangladesh out for 64 and 95 to level the two-match series 1-1. The match concluded inside two days.
Who were the top performers for Australia in the Mackay Test?
Mitchell Starc was the standout, taking 10 wickets across the match. Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon each claimed three wickets in Bangladesh's second innings.
What did Shoriful Islam achieve in the Mackay Test?
Shoriful Islam took 7/48, the best figures by an overseas bowler in Australia since Curtly Ambrose's 7/25 in Perth in 1993 — a remarkable individual performance in an otherwise difficult match for Bangladesh.
Why did Bangladesh struggle in Mackay after winning in Darwin?
Captain Shanto attributed the collapse to different pitch conditions in Mackay, which offered extra bounce and swing, and acknowledged Bangladesh did not play to their best standard. Australia's experience and quality also played a significant role.
What did Shanto say about Bangladesh's need for overseas Test exposure?
Shanto stressed that Bangladesh have toured Australia only twice in 23 years, and called for annual or more regular opportunities in similar conditions to accelerate the team's development in overseas Test cricket.
