Starc’s Historic Achievement
Mitchell Starc has made history in Test cricket, becoming the most successful left-arm bowler. He achieved this milestone by securing his 434th Test wicket during the first Test against Bangladesh in Darwin. This accomplishment places him ahead of former record-holder Rangana Herath, who had 433 wickets.
The Australian pacer reached this significant landmark on Day 1 of the match when he dismissed Shadnan Islam. Starc’s performance marks a notable moment in his career and in the history of Test cricket, solidifying his position among the sport’s elite bowlers.
Australia’s Batting Struggles
Despite Starc’s individual success, Australia faced a challenging start to their innings. After winning the toss and electing to bat first, the team was bowled out for just 198 runs in their first innings. This total represents their lowest-ever score against Bangladesh in Test cricket.
The Australian innings began with an opening partnership of 45 runs between Travis Head, who scored 22, and Jake Weatherald, who contributed 23. However, after this initial stand, the team struggled to build momentum. Despite a resilient effort from Steve Smith, who scored 71 runs off 109 balls, including seven fours and one six, Australia’s batting line-up collapsed.
The team found themselves at 74/4 after the early wickets, and despite Smith’s persistence with the middle and lower order, they were unable to recover. This performance marked a significant struggle for the Australian side against the Bangladeshi bowling attack.
Bangladesh Pacers Shine
The first day of the Test was also historic for Bangladesh’s pacers, particularly Hasan Mahmud. Mahmud delivered an exceptional performance, recording the best-ever figures by a Bangladeshi bowler against Australia. His impressive spell surpassed the previous record held by Rafique, who took 5/62 in Fatullah in 2006.
Mahmud’s bowling played a crucial role in restricting Australia to their lowest Test score against Bangladesh since they were bowled out for 217 in Mirpur in 2017. He now has three five-wicket hauls in 15 Tests, making him the second-most successful Bangladeshi pacer in terms of five-wicket hauls, trailing only Shahadat Hossain, who has four in 38 Tests.
Hasan Mahmud has established himself as a formidable bowler in away conditions, having achieved five-wicket hauls in India, Pakistan, and now against Australia. His ability to perform consistently in diverse environments highlights his growing influence in the Bangladeshi bowling attack.
Another significant milestone for Bangladesh was achieved by Taskin Ahmed, who completed 300 international wickets. Taskin became the sixth bowler in Bangladesh’s cricketing history to reach this landmark. He finished with figures of 2/55 in the match, bringing his total international wickets to exactly 300 from 204 matches.
Taskin Ahmed’s career statistics include 13 four-wicket hauls and three five-wicket hauls, with an average above 28. He joins an esteemed list of Bangladeshi bowlers who have achieved this feat, including Shakib-Al Hasan (712 wickets), Mashrafe Mortaza (389 wickets), Mustafizur Rahman (384 wickets), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (369 wickets), and Taijul Islam (302 wickets).
The performances of both Hasan Mahmud and Taskin Ahmed were pivotal in Bangladesh’s strong showing on Day 1, contributing to Australia’s batting collapse and marking a historic day for their team’s bowling unit.
Source: m.rediff.com
