Australia VS Bangladesh Match ball by ball Commentary

Over and out - The spoils are shared in the series, and now Pat Cummins and Najmul Hossain Shanto pose with the trophy for the photographs. Another two-day Test in Australia, and that’s now three in under a year, with a couple of them coming during the Ashes. Next up, the Aussies set out on an African safari. First up will be a three-match ODI series in Zimbabwe in September, before they head to South Africa for ODIs and Tests. Bangladesh’s next assignment is in November, when they travel to South Africa for an all-format tour. For now, you can switch tabs and follow the action from the second Test between Sri Lanka and India. Cheers!

The captain of Australia - Pat Cummins says a lot of things went right for them this week, after plenty went wrong in Darwin. He is pleased with the way the group responded and feels it was a good couple of days for the team, with everyone looking sharp. Cummins feels the first hour or two can often set up a Test, and his side managed to do exactly that in this game. He says Cameron Green has been putting together some really solid performances in Test cricket and believes they know he is good enough to keep producing at this level. With plenty of cricket coming up, he hopes Green can continue in the same vein. Reflecting on the experience of playing in Darwin and Mackay, he says it has been great, with both venues offering a slightly different feel from the stadiums Australia usually play at during the middle of summer. He praises the support from the crowds and feels the conditions in both Tests were excellent and worthy of Test cricket. On his involvement in the upcoming white-ball matches, he says the plan is to work out his availability over the next couple of days. He expects to play some white-ball cricket before returning to the red-ball format.

The skipper of Bangladesh - Najmul Hossain Shanto says that they all know how good Australia are, and they showed their character. Admits that they as a team didn't play their best game. On the playing conditions, he reckons that these conditions were different and there was a bit of extra bounce, but these learnings will help them going forward. He says that the wicket was difficult to bat on and their bowlers did a good job as well. Ends by saying that they need to be consistent and they should get more chances, and not like now, as they came here after 23 years and played two Test matches.

Mitchell Starc takes home all the accolades - The left-arm quick walks away with both the PLAYER OF THE MATCH and PLAYER OF THE SERIES awards. Starc claimed 12 wickets in the series, with 10 of them coming in this game alone, including a six-wicket haul in the first innings. He admits they knew they were not at their best in Darwin and gives Bangladesh credit for playing really well in that game. Starc feels Australia produced the kind of performance they expected from themselves in Mackay, particularly with the ball on a wicket that offered assistance.

Time for the presentation ceremony...

What transpired on Day 2? Shoriful Islam finished with 7/48, the best figures by a Bangladesh fast bowler in a Test innings, but Australia still managed to take a 146-run lead and even that proved too much for Bangladesh to handle. Patience was the basis of their success in Darwin, but it was in short supply here. The ‘Big Four’, as they are called - Cummins, Lyon, Starc and Hazlewood - kept the tourists under pressure throughout. The partnership between Mushfiqur Rahim and Najmul Hossain Shanto was as good as it got for Bangladesh in the second innings, but once Shanto fell, Australia chipped away at the wickets to complete the job.

Recap of Day 1 - It was a thrill-a-minute kind of opening day, with 18 wickets falling, the third-most wickets to fall on Day 1 of a Test in Australia since 1975. After the toss fell Australia’s way, the tone was set by Mitchell Starc, who, as he has done in the past, struck with the first ball of the Test. He completed his five-wicket haul in just 22 balls, leaving Bangladesh in all sorts at 12/5. There was no way back from there as the visitors were skittled for just 64. Bangladesh found their own answer with the ball through Shoriful Islam. Australia’s top three could not contribute much, but Steve Smith and Cameron Green were going along nicely and were in a position to make it really difficult for Bangladesh to find their way back into the game. But Shoriful’s burst sparked a dramatic collapse, and suddenly Australia were wobbling.

Over to Nathan Lyon - Lyon says that it has been a good series. He adds that their preparation has been good and their batters did a good job on this track. On his matchup with Shanto, he says that he kept calm and bowled according to the plan. He reckons that the pitch was great and the groundsmen did a great job. He ends by saying that it was a good series overall.

A word from Josh Hazlewood - Josh feels the wicket was pretty good and does not necessarily think it was a two-day surface. He says it played better than that, although it quickened up as the game went on. Mentions that there was some seam movement on Day 1, which he expected, but once the shine went off the ball, there was not a great deal happening. Reflecting on Darwin, Hazlewood admits it was a tough week but says he will freshen up over the next few days before making a call on his white-ball availability. On the atmosphere in Mackay, he shares that he enjoyed how close the crowd felt on a ground like this. Having grown up in a small town himself, he says he can relate to that connection with the local community.

Cameron Green shares his thoughts - Green says that it has been a good series. Adds that they failed to win the first one but did well in this game. He reckons that they got off to a great start and carried on with the momentum. On his preparation, he says that he focuses on his bowling but spends most of his time on his batting with the World Cup next year. He ends by saying that they have a lot of fun together and everyone did a great job.