Australia scored a comfortable innings victory over Bangladesh in the second Test, well inside two days.
It’s a stark contrast to the comprehensive win that Bangladesh enjoyed in the first Test in Darwin.
Here’s how the host team rated individually across the two days in Mackay.
Mitchell Starc, 9
Was at his scything best on day one to open the Test up for Australia and made more critical incisions to pave the way to a rapid victory on day two. Now holds the world record for most wickets from the first ball of a Test with four, and is revving nicely for South Africa.
Cameron Green, 8
An excellent innings to follow his century in Darwin, showing good sense and shot selection while keeping pressure on the bowlers. Starc pointed to Green’s ability to find a “process” that worked for him as an example for other batsmen to follow.
Pat Cummins, 8
Made the right decision at the toss this time and bowled sharply and well at first change, in both innings, threatening with full deliveries as well as short ones. Struck a good balance in his rhetoric between games, acknowledging a bad defeat in Darwin but turning the page effectively here.
Steve Smith, 7
Played well and formed the foundations of a very good partnership with Green, before falling to the most marginal of lbw decisions in favour of Shoriful Islam. Continues to believe that Test pitches, particularly in Australia, have latterly become too difficult for batsmen to cope with.
Josh Hazlewood, 7
Bowled well in both innings without getting the same rewards as in Darwin. But the main thing for Australia will be that Hazlewood got through two Tests without an injury concern, a possible harbinger of better things to come over the next 12 months.
Nathan Lyon, 7
Made a vital 27 with the bat, helping eke out a lead of 146 with Green and Hazlewood to collect 62 for the final two wickets. Bowled tidily in the second innings and earned the wicket of visiting skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto with drift that turned an attempted cover drive into an outfield catch. Still looking over his shoulder every time the team is selected, however.
Alex Carey, 4
Kept wicket tidily in his 50th Test but will be annoyed not to have made any substantial scores in this series. After looking becalmed in Darwin, he was out trying to swing Mehidy Hasan Miraz over midwicket in Mackay. Australia will need him to find a better balance in South Africa.
Travis Head, 4
Gave Australia a bright start with the bat but will need to review his series after dragging into the stumps three times in as many innings. Despite a quiet series Head’s value as an opener remains high because of how quickly he can influence a game when the ball is new.
Beau Webster, 2
Out for a first-ball duck here and unable to take a wicket in either game, Webster also dropped a very simple catch on day one. These outcomes either represent a downturn due after a strong start to his Test career or evidence that opposition teams are wising up to Webster after 18 months of playing against him.
Marnus Labuschagne, 2
Will be fretful about his Test future after failing to make an impact with the bat in either game, stretching a streak without hundreds to more than three years in duration. Was the first man in the nets on the second morning, as is typical of an extremely dedicated cricketer, but Bangladesh’s rapid second innings meant he was never likely to get much of a chance second time round. If he goes to South Africa it may be as a reserve batsman.
Matt Renshaw, 2
A brief return to Test cricket ended when he tried to turn a seaming delivery to midwicket and was taken in the cordon. Should be given an extended run at the top, but South Africa will be a bracing start against a bowling attack adept at challenging left-handers.
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Daniel Brettig is The Age’s chief cricket writer and the author of several books on cricket.Connect via X.From our partners
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