Bangladesh fast bowler Shoriful Islam scripted history on Saturday by becoming the first No. 11 batter in Test cricket history to top-score in an innings against Australia. Coming in after the fall of the ninth wicket, the left-hander scored 14 off 19 balls to finish as Bangladesh's highest scorer in their first innings.
Bangladesh were bowled out for just 64 in 34 overs on the opening day (Saturday, August 22) of the second Test at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay. Australia then made a cautious start with the bat, reaching 50/3 at tea. The hosts lost three early wickets and are trailing by 14 runs before the final session.
Shoriful Islam Becomes First No. 11 Batter to Top-Score Against Australia
Bangladesh avoided their lowest-ever Test total of 43 runs. Shoriful Islam hit three boundaries from 19 balls and added 25 runs for the final wicket with Taijul Islam. It was the highest partnership of Bangladesh's innings and helped them reach 64.
It took nearly 150 years of men's Test cricket for a No. 11 batter to top-score against Australia. Shoriful became only the 13th No. 11 batter in Test history to finish as his team's highest scorer in an innings. He joined an exclusive list that includes Ashton Agar, Neil Wagner, and Talha Jubair.
The 25-year-old pacer also became only the second Bangladesh batter to achieve the feat. Former fast bowler Talha Jubair was the first, scoring 31 against India in Chattogram in 2004.
Times a No. 11 Batter Has Top-Scored in a Test Innings
| Player | Runs | Team | Opposition | Match Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frank Spofforth | 50 | Australia | England | 21 Mar 1885 |
| Tom McKibbin | 16 | Australia | England | 10 Aug 1896 |
| Aubrey Vogler | 62* | South Africa | England | 30 Mar 1906 |
| Asif Masood | 30* | Pakistan | West Indies | 15 Feb 1975 |
| Jayantha Amerasinghe | 34 | Sri Lanka | New Zealand | 9 Mar 1984 |
| Talha Jubair | 31 | Bangladesh | India | 17 Dec 2004 |
| Steve Harmison | 42 | England | South Africa | 2 Jan 2005 |
| Nathan Lyon | 14 | Australia | South Africa | 9 Nov 2011 |
| Ashton Agar | 98 | Australia | England | 10 Jul 2013 |
| Sulieman Benn | 53* | West Indies | New Zealand | 8 Jun 2014 |
| Tim Murtagh | 54* | Ireland | Afghanistan | 15 Mar 2019 |
| Saqib Mahmood | 49 | England | West Indies | 24 Mar 2022 |
| Shoriful Islam | 14 | Bangladesh | Australia | 22 Aug 2026 |
Shoriful Islam Strikes Early With Ball to Rattle Australia's Top Order
Shoriful Islam carried his batting momentum into his bowling spell with the new ball. Returning to the playing XI after recovering from a hamstring injury, the left-arm pacer struck with his second delivery. Australian opener Travis Head chopped the ball onto his stumps for 22 off 27 balls.
It was the third consecutive time in the two-match series that Head had been dismissed after chopping the ball onto his stumps. Shoriful's sharp delivery brought Bangladesh an important breakthrough and reduced Australia to 40/2.
Shoriful struck again in the same over to remove Marnus Labuschagne for just four. The Australian No. 3 was unfortunate as the delivery hit his thigh pad before deflecting onto the leg stump, leaving him in disbelief.
"You don't see that very often. When your luck's out, things do not go your way," Former Australian batter Michael Hussey on commentary.
Australia's top order struggled, with Matthew Renshaw (8), Travis Head (22), and Marnus Labuschagne (4) falling before tea. Steve Smith (6*) and Cameron Green (1*) remained unbeaten at the break. Earlier, Mitchell Starc recorded figures of 6/12 in 10 overs, recording his 19th five-wicket haul in Tests.
