Mitchell Starc's Fiery Six-Wicket Spell Leaves Bangladesh Reeling as Alyssa Healy Adds a Touch of Fun

Mackay, August 22, 2026: Mitchell Starc produced a devastating opening spell in the second Test against Bangladesh in Mackay, ripping through the visitors with figures of 6 for 12 and helping Australia dismiss Bangladesh for just 64 runs.

The performance was exactly the response Australia needed after suffering a shock nine-wicket defeat to Bangladesh in Darwin. Starc's exceptional spell put Australia firmly in control early in the match, while also adding another remarkable chapter to his Test career.

Starc strikes with the first ball

Starc wasted no time making an impact. He dismissed Shadman Islam with the very first delivery of the Test, becoming the first bowler in Test history to take a wicket with the opening ball of a Test on four separate occasions.

He went on to complete his five-wicket haul in just 22 deliveries, before returning later to remove Shoriful Islam and finish with extraordinary figures of 6/12.

His victims also included Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mominul Haque and Litton Das, as Bangladesh's batting order collapsed dramatically.

The 64-run total became Bangladesh's fourth-lowest total in Test cricket, highlighting just how dominant Australia's bowling performance was.

Starc moves past Dale Steyn

The six-wicket haul also brought another major milestone for the Australian fast bowler.

Starc moved to 440 Test wickets, overtaking South African legend Dale Steyn, who finished his Test career with 439 wickets. Starc consequently moved into 10th place on the all-time Test wicket-takers' list.

Pat Cummins also played a key role with 3/25, while Josh Hazlewood claimed the remaining wicket to complete Bangladesh's collapse.

Alyssa Healy's interview steals the spotlight

Starc's remarkable spell was followed by an entertaining moment away from the cricket.

After the session, his wife and former Australia women's captain Alyssa Healy interviewed him for Fox Sports. The conversation mixed cricket analysis with some light-hearted banter.

Healy joked about dinner after saying she had paid the previous night, asking Starc whether it was now his turn to pay.

Starc responded with a smile: "You're paid the bigger bucks than I am."

The playful exchange quickly shifted back to cricket, with Healy asking Starc about Australia's decision to bowl first and whether the conditions were exactly what the team had hoped for.

Starc admitted Australia had not been at their best in Darwin but was delighted with the way they responded in Mackay.

Bangladesh fight back

Despite Starc's spectacular morning, Australia did not have everything their own way.

Bangladesh's bowlers fought back strongly after their batting collapse, reducing Australia to 50/3 by tea. That late response prevented Australia from completely dominating the opening day and ensured the second Test remained competitive.

Nevertheless, Starc's extraordinary opening spell had already delivered one of the defining performances of the match.

For Australia, it was the perfect individual response from their spearhead — and a powerful statement after the disappointment of Darwin.

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