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The Australia National Cricket Team has found itself under growing pressure as Mitchell Starc and the Bangladesh National Cricket Team all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz were involved in an on-field confrontation on Day 2 of the ongoing first Test in Darwin.
Tension erupted between Starc and Miraz during the Australia fast bowler’s 21st over of Bangladesh’s first innings at the Marrara Cricket Ground in Darwin. Earlier, Steve Smith created a world record as Mitchell Starc went past Kapil Dev during the 1st AUS vs BAN Test.
Mitchell Starc and Mehidy Hasan Miraz involved in heated exchange
Mitchell Starc bowled a back-of-a-length delivery outside off, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz calmly guided it towards short third man. The Bangladesh all-rounder quickly completed a single and continued moving down the pitch at the Marrara Cricket Ground.
Starc was not happy with Miraz walking on the wicket. The Australian fast bowler was heard telling Miraz to “get off the pitch” and “that was not your area,” and this led to a brief exchange between the two players.
The situation could have turned more heated, but umpire Kumar Dharmasena immediately stepped in to calm things down. The players were separated, and the tension soon settled.
HEATED MOMENT BETWEEN STARC AND MEHIDY!🚨🚨🚨
— Hi Cricket (@Umang875978) August 14, 2026
Frustration continues to mount for the 37-year-oldies as Bangladesh's tailenders keep frustrating the bowling attack and sneaking crucial extra runs pic.twitter.com/ArJiAtYmw1
Things are getting heated on day 2! 😮💨
— CODE Cricket (@codecricketau) August 14, 2026
FOLLOW LIVE ▶️ https://t.co/qiZOGd3wJb pic.twitter.com/e35FhU3cBU
This incident highlighted just how much pressure Australia was feeling at this stage. Bangladesh has already taken a 150+ run lead while Starc and the Australian attack were desperately searching for a breakthrough.
Mitchell Starc scripts history in Darwin Test
Earlier, Mitchell Starc had achieved big milestones in Test cricket. Starc dismissed Litton Das to take his Test wicket tally to 435 during the second day of the first Test in Darwin.
With this wicket, he moved past India legend Kapil Dev, who finished his career with 434 wickets in 131 Tests at an average of 29.64 to become the sixth leading Test wicket-taking fast bowler.
Earlier in the same match, Starc had already become the highest wicket-taker among left-arm bowlers after going past Sri Lanka’s Rangana Herath, who took 433 wickets. Amid this, Rank turner? Galle pitch gives big surprise ahead of India vs Sri Lanka 1st Test.
Bangladesh take control in Darwin
Meanwhile, Bangladesh had another excellent day in Darwin and is now in a very strong position. They have taken a 153-run lead over Australia in the ongoing first Test.
Tanzid Hasan and Mominul Haque batted carefully and added 102 runs together. Mominul missed his fifty by just one run, but Tanzid continued batting well. Playing only his second Test match, Tanzid showed great patience and confidence and smashed his maiden Test century.
Following Tanzid’s dismissal, Najmul Hossain Shanto joined Mushfiqur Rahim, and they added another 50 runs. However, Australia made a comeback with the second new ball. Shanto was out for 84, followed quickly by Litton Das and Mushfiqur. Bangladesh lost three wickets for just 11 runs.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz leads the charge as Bangladesh aim to script history in Australia
But Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Hasan Mahmud have managed to put Australia on the backfoot with their resistance. Bangladesh now leads by 153 runs and will hope to push the lead beyond 200 runs against Australia in the ongoing two-match Test series opener in Darwin.
This was only the second time when Australia conceded a 150+ run lead to Bangladesh in Test cricket after more than two decades. Bangladesh achieved this only once before, in 2006, when they took a 158-run first-innings lead after scoring 427 and dismissing Australia for 269.
Yet, they suffered a crushing defeat in that match, but this time, they look more dangerous to script history.
