Bangladesh’s Shoriful Islam Gives Mitchell Starc A Fitting Reply With Historic Spell

Mitchell Starc (L) & Shoriful Islam (Source: AFP Photos)

Bangladesh left-arm fast bowler Shoriful Islam silenced Mitchell Starc on Saturday at the end of Day 1 of the second Test between Bangladesh and Australia, taking place at Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay.

While Starc made all the headlines earlier with exceptional figures of 10-6-12-6, which bundled Bangladesh for 64 in the first innings, Shoriful returned figures of 6/35 after 11 overs at stumps on Day 1. At the close of play, Australia finished on 165/8.

Shoriful Islam Tops Bangladesh’s List After Mackay Heroics

Shoriful Islam’s current bowling figures left behind Hasan Mahmud, who breathed fire last time in Darwin when Australia met Bangladesh.

Mohammad Rafique, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib Al Hasan are the only ones from Bangladesh who have had a five-wicket haul in a single Test innings in Australia, barring the above-mentioned duo.

[Best Bowling Figures Of Bangladesh Vs Australia In Tests, As Of August 22, 2026]

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Overall, Shoriful Islam’s spell would also go down as one of the best in the Test cricket history for Bangladesh, and things can only be greater if he manages one or two remaining wickets in the first innings.

[Best Bowling Figures By Bangladesh Player In Tests, As Of August 22, 2026]

Who Made Way For Shoriful In BAN XI Vs AUS?

Shoriful Islam was not part of Bangladesh's playing XI vs Australia for the first Test of the two-match series in Darwin. He sustained a hamstring injury during Bangladesh's tour of Zimbabwe in July, which made him unavailable for selection ahead of the series opener.

However, he regained full fitness for the BAN vs AUS 2nd Test and eventually replaced Ebadot Hossain in the Mackay match. Even though Ebadot did more than a decent job in Darwin, he had to make way to give some room for Shoriful.

Shoriful Islam Keeps On Making Headlines

Shoriful Islam did not have a great red-ball record for Bangladesh until the BAN vs AUS 2nd Test. He averaged 36.03 after 13 Tests, taking 27 wickets, while striking at 69.7.

However, he was part of the history even before taking up the ball in hand on Saturday.

Coming to bat at No. 11, Shoriful made 14 off 19 balls, laced with three fours. Thanks to him, Bangladesh recovered from an embarrassing 39/9 to end on 64 all out. In fact, he was the highest run scorer in the entire innings.

The next-best score was 11, achieved by Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam. Taijul, Bangladesh’s all-time highest wicket-taker in Tests, remained not out on 11.

In the process, he registered himself as one of the rare No. 11s in Test cricket history who finished as the top run scorer of the innings.

[Instances No.11 batter top-scoring in a Test innings, As Of August 22, 2026]

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