Australia vs Bangladesh 2026 LIVE cricket scores: Second Test, Day 2 highlights, results, latest updates; Significant doubts over Aussie top order grow

Cam Green’s spot in the XI for the tour of South Africa and home summer has been secured in this series, but the question is how best to utilise him.

If we’re projecting Marnus Labuschagne coming out of the XI, and potentially Beau Webster losing his spot as well, will that affect Green?

On top of that, Travis Head’s struggles opening the batting have raised questions as to whether he should return to the middle order as well.

The lack of batting depth in Australia makes this difficult. Head and Renshaw may have to stay at the top of the order, but if Josh Inglis is the next batsman in, where does he slot in?

Labuschagne and Webster’s struggles in this Test will certainly provide a headache as we approach the tour of South Africa, with no natural replacement at three.

Inglis could replace Webster and bat at seven, Campbell Kellaway maybe could replace Labuschagne at three? There’s a lot to think about and none of the puzzle pieces fit in cleanly.

Is Cricket Australia staring down the barrel of a third two-day Test match on home soil within the last year?

It would appear reasonably likely, which would be significantly frustrating for them given day one was a sell out in Mackay and day two has also been sold out.

Anyone who has bought tickets for days three, four or five will need to be refunded, money Cricket Australia will frustratingly part with for the third time in a year.

Of course, it won’t quite hit the bottom line as hard as this same situation occurring twice during the Ashes.

Australia losing eight wickets before stumps was the death blow for the Test reaching Monday. Cricket Australia would have been desperate for the Aussies to dig in and bat through most of day two.

Australia leads by 101 runs after bowling Bangladesh out for 64 yesterday and has two wickets in the sheds as we approach the start of play.

Barring an almighty batting display from Bangladesh mirroring their first innings in Darwin, this Test will wrap up at some point this evening, with the Aussies chasing down a measly total for the win.

A huge loss for all hoping to head to work on Monday and sneak some Test cricket in the background.

None of the questions posed following the Darwin Test have been answered here in the first innings in Mackay.

Marnus Labuschagne once again failed with the bat, Matt Renshaw only made eight in his return after replacing the axed Jake Weatherald and questions surrounding Travis Head’s best position continue.

Steve Smith was undone by a poor umpiring decision and more DRS madness (just my opinion), but it’s left the Aussies once again on the cusp of being bowled out for sub 200 against Bangladesh.

Former Australian cricket coach Justin Langer has not been impressed with the batting in Mackay.

“When we turned up (yesterday morning) it actually looked like a very good surface to bat on with a lightning fast outfield,” Langer told SEN after the conclusion of day one.

“Interestingly, most of the wickets fell to the swinging ball, not the seaming ball, and there’s a difference. If you’ve got a wicket that’s seaming around, it’s very hard for a batter to prepare for that, but you can prepare for swing and the batters didn’t adapt to that anywhere near well enough.”

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