Australia just absolutely demolished Bangladesh in the second Test at Mackay, wrapping things up by an innings and 51 runs in a wild two days. You read that right, *two days*. But get this: the pitch that churned out 30 wickets in a mere 125 overs is actually set to get a “very good” rating from match referee Sir Richie Richardson, the absolute highest possible under ICC guidelines. The ICC still needs to sign off, but if this holds, it’s going to blow some minds.
This Two-Day Whistle Stop Was a Total Wicket-Fest
We’re talking about a match that lasted just 750 deliveries, making it the fourth-shortest completed men’s Test in history. Seriously, blink and you missed it. Australia put up a modest 210, then watched Bangladesh crumble for 64 and 95. That’s a total of only 369 runs scored across the entire contest. Talk about a quick turnaround! The man of the hour, Mitchell Starc, was absolutely on fire, bagging an insane 10 for 51 across the match, including a ridiculous 6 for 12 in Bangladesh’s first innings. It was Mackay’s debut as a Test venue, and boy, did it deliver drama from start to finish.
Why Did This Wicket Get Top Marks? Players Back the Call
You’d think a pitch spitting out 30 wickets in two days would get blasted, but the argument for Mackay’s “very good” rating actually holds some weight. Reports say the surface struck a crazy balance: a wicket fell every 25 deliveries, but the assistance was all conventional seam movement and bounce. No unpredictable, dangerous stuff, which is usually what triggers a bad rating. Plus, there’s precedent. That Perth pitch from the 2025-26 Ashes also wrapped up in two days and got a “very good.” It’s a different vibe than say, the Gabba in 2022 or the MCG in 2025, which were dinged for being genuinely misbehaved, not just quick. Starc, who’s been bowling on Australian tracks for ages, was totally blunt defending it. He said, “People will see 18 wickets and say it’s a bad wicket. I think it’s a very good day for one wicket,” even comparing it to a Gabba wicket with “tennis-ball bounce early on day one.” Nathan Lyon, who actually stuck around for 62 balls in the match, backed it up too, calling the pitch “brilliant.”
Was It the Pitch or the Batters That Just Couldn’t Hang?
Here’s the kicker: the strongest evidence that batting standards were the real issue, not some unplayable pitch, lies in the dismissals themselves and the complete lack of application. Think about it, Nathan Lyon, Australia’s number 10, faced more deliveries than most of the *specialist batters* on either side. That’s usually not a sign of a pitch that’s impossible to bat on. Australia’s own modest 210 also shows it wasn’t a batting paradise for them either, but they found a way to win big. With the series now leveled, the focus shifts to how the ICC formalizes this assessment and what this means for the rest of the series. We’re on the edge of our seats waiting to see the official decision!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply