AUS vs BAN: After losing the first Test against Bangladesh, Australia has made only one change to its playing XI for the second Test, scheduled to begin in Mackay on August 22. Matt Renshaw returns to replace opener Jake Weatherald, marking his first Test appearance in three years; he last represented Australia in Test cricket against India in Delhi in February 2023. Marnus Labuschagne, who has been struggling with poor form for a long time, retains his spot in the team.
Fast bowler Scott Boland has been left out. Given the cool weather conditions in Central Queensland (AUS vs BAN), there was speculation that Boland might get a chance ahead of Nathan Lyon, but that did not happen. The Australian team has fielded an all-pace attack only twice for Pink-Ball Tests since 2025. The last time Lyon was left out of the playing XI while fit for a red-ball Test was 14 years ago at the WACA.
Bangladesh batters looked comfortable against Lyon
In the first innings in Darwin, Lyon took 1 wicket for 102 runs. This was his first match since missing the Ashes series last December due to a hamstring injury. The Bangladeshi batters performed impressively against him; his economy rate exceeded four runs per over. A hint of the change in the Australian squad came a few days earlier when Renshaw was brought in to replace Jake Weatherald. Weatherald had scored 23 and 0 in Darwin, falling both times to ‘Player of the Match’ Hasan Mahmud.
Renshaw is set to play his 15th Test match. He averaged 49.90 in the Sheffield Shield last season. Overall, Renshaw holds a Test average of 29.31, with a highest score of 184 runs, achieved against Pakistan in early 2017. Bangladesh made history on Sunday (August 16) by defeating Australia in Darwin in the first match of the two-Test series. This marked their first-ever Test victory in Australia and their second Test win against the team overall.
Australia playing XI: Matthew Renshaw, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
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