Bangladesh dare to dream again, Australia focused on one outcome

Following a historic nine-wicket victory in Darwin—their first-ever Test win on Australian soil—Bangladesh head into the second Test at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay with a chance to secure a landmark series win. Australia, meanwhile, are fighting to avoid losing both matches of a two-Test home series for the first time in their history.

Venue Debut: Mackay becomes Australia's 12th Test venue. Pitch curators have aimed for Gabba-like conditions with genuine pace and bounce, though spin is expected to play a factor late in the game. Renshaw In for Weatherald: Australia confirmed Matt Renshaw will replace the dropped Jake Weatherald to open alongside Travis Head. Renshaw boasts a stellar record at this ground, having previously scored two first-class centuries here.

Lyon Retained: Australia resisted the temptation to field an all-pace attack, retaining Nathan Lyon alongside Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood.Bangladesh's Selection Dilemma: Shoriful Islam has been passed fit and could bolster the pacemen, while Darwin heroes Hasan Mahmud (9-wicket match haul) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz look to replicate their form.

Australia Probable XI: Travis Head, Matt Renshaw, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

Bangladesh Probable XI : Tanzid Hasan, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam / Taijul Islam, Ebadot Hossain

Travis Head was the first Australia opener in 31 years to score 600-plus runs in a Test series - against England in the Ashes last year. He has had a fantastic time in Tests since 2022, which makes his two knocks in Darwin appear like blips. Head fell to Mahmud in both innings, chopping on in almost identical dismissals. Rustiness is often touted as a factor in a season-opener, particularly after seven months, but Head is unlikely to let that ruin his purple patch.

Pitch Report

Batters enjoyed perfect conditions in the last international match, an ODI, held in Mackay last year: Australia racked up 431 for 2 batting first against South Africa, who were beaten by 276 runs. Now Mackay makes its Test debut, and not much has changed going by the look of the pitch in the lead-up to the game. Only five first-class games have been held at this venue over the years, so there's not much to look at there. What we do know is that the strong south-easterly breeze from the ocean nearby usually has a say in proceedings, and that the temperatures are far more comfortable than in Darwin.