A heated exchange between Mitchell Starc and Mehidy Hasan Miraz during Day 2 of the first Test between Australia and Bangladesh in Darwin on August 14, 2026, drew attention for the intensity of the moment on the field. The confrontation occurred during the 103rd over of Bangladesh’s innings as Starc bowled his 21st over. Miraz struck the delivery toward point and immediately attempted a single, but the situation escalated when he appeared to run through the protected area of the pitch.
Umpire Kumar Dharmasena issued a warning as Starc objected to Miraz’s line of running. The exchange between the two players was sharp in the moment, with both players making their positions clear during the passage of play. However, the incident did not define the relationship between the two competitors moving forward.
‘This is my follow-through, not your follow-through. Get off the wicket’, Starc said during the heated moment. Miraz responded that he could not see Starc while watching the ball and had not noticed him in his path.
Starc and Miraz resolve their differences
On Saturday morning, August 15, after Day 3 of the match, Starc approached Miraz to address what had occurred the previous day. The Australian fast bowler’s gesture marked a clear resolution between the two players, with both acknowledging their roles in the heated moment. Miraz later explained his perspective on the incident and the subsequent conversation.
“There wasn’t much that happened yesterday. He just happened to come in front of me, and I didn’t notice him either. So I ended up running right down the middle of the pitch. But this can happen on a cricket field. This morning, he spoke to me regarding what happened yesterday and said, ‘It’s okay, even I was at fault. But it’s okay,” said Miraz.
Bangladesh’s commanding position in the match
The match itself had been competitive, with Bangladesh establishing a strong position. Australia was bowled out for 198 on Day 1, while Bangladesh posted 426 runs in their first innings, securing a 228-run lead. By the end of Day 3, Australia had reached 161 for 4 wickets in their second innings, leaving the contest finely balanced.
Bangladesh’s first-innings advantage of 228 runs marked a significant achievement against Australia. The 228-run lead was only the second time Australia had conceded a first-innings advantage of more than 150 runs to Bangladesh, with the previous occasion occurring in 2006 when Bangladesh led by 158 runs.
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