Mackay, August 23 – Bangladesh’s second Test against Australia ended before the completion of two days, prompting calls from Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) officials for the International Cricket Council (ICC) to review the Mackay pitch.
The five-day Test concluded with Australia securing an innings victory after Bangladesh were bowled out for 95 in their second innings. The match lasted only 750 balls, making it the second-shortest Test ever played in Australia by number of deliveries.
The pitch came under scrutiny after 18 wickets fell on the opening day. Five more Bangladesh wickets fell before lunch on the second day, with the remaining five dismissed before the end of the next session.
BCB director Sirajuddin Mohammad Alamgir called for an ICC review, arguing that the pitch was not suitable for Test cricket.
“Five-day Test ends in one and a half days—of course it should be reviewed,” Alamgir told Dhaka Post. “The pitch was not sufficiently worthy for batting. It is disappointing.”
He also suggested that the result might have been different had Australia batted first.
A BCB curator, speaking to Dhaka Post, said the Mackay surface appeared to be prepared to suit Australia’s strengths and provided significant assistance to fast bowlers.
The match produced far more swing, seam movement and bounce than the first Test in Darwin. Australia were bowled out for 210 after Bangladesh pacer Shoriful Islam claimed seven wickets, but Mitchell Starc had earlier destroyed Bangladesh’s first innings with a six-wicket haul as they were dismissed for just 64.
Australia consequently took a 146-run first-innings lead, which Bangladesh could not overcome. Mushfiqur Rahim was the only Bangladesh batter to offer significant resistance in the second innings.
Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, however, refused to blame the pitch for the defeat. He acknowledged that the conditions were extremely challenging but said both teams faced the same surface.
“When we play in the subcontinent and 18 or 19 wickets fall in a day, everyone talks about it,” Shanto said. “Here, 18 wickets fell on the first day. The wicket was challenging, which is why 18 wickets fell.”
Despite the heavy defeat, Bangladesh’s bowlers impressed throughout the two-Test series. Shoriful’s seven-wicket haul in Mackay marked the best innings figures by a Bangladeshi pace bowler in Test cricket.
Bangladesh had entered the second Test with confidence after recording a historic victory over Australia in Darwin. Australia responded strongly in Mackay to level the series, but the nature of the pitch has now become the main talking point surrounding the match.
BCB officials are expected to consider whether to formally bring the Mackay surface to the ICC’s attention for review.
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