Bangladesh vs Australia, 2nd Test: Playing XI & Changes from Darwin
Both sides made exactly one change apiece for the series decider at Mackay's Great Barrier Reef Arena. Australia swapped out out-of-form opener Jake Weatherald for the recalled Matt Renshaw, while Bangladesh brought back paceman Shoriful Islam in place of Ebadot Hossain. Here are the confirmed XIs and what changed from the historic Darwin Test.
Australia dropped Jake Weatherald for Matt Renshaw after his poor Darwin showing, with Renshaw opening alongside Travis Head. Bangladesh made the reverse move to their winning Darwin XI, bringing in recovered paceman Shoriful Islam for Ebadot Hossain - a call that paid off immediately, with Shoriful taking 6/35 on his return.
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Bangladesh Playing XI (Mackay)
| # | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tanzid Hasan | Opener |
| 2 | Shadman Islam | Opener |
| 3 | Mominul Haque | Top order |
| 4 | Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt) | Top order |
| 5 | Mushfiqur Rahim | Middle order |
| 6 | Litton Das (wk) | Wicketkeeper |
| 7 | Mehidy Hasan Miraz | All-rounder |
| 8 | Taijul Islam | Spinner |
| 9 | Taskin Ahmed | Pacer |
| 10 | Shoriful Islam (in) | Pacer |
| 11 | Hasan Mahmud | Pacer |
Change from Darwin: Shoriful Islam replaces Ebadot Hossain. Shoriful missed the Darwin Test with a hamstring injury; head coach Phil Simmons had been reluctant to change a winning XI but brought the left-armer straight back in once he was declared fit.
Australia Playing XI (Mackay)
| # | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Travis Head | Opener |
| 2 | Matt Renshaw (in) | Opener |
| 3 | Marnus Labuschagne | Top order |
| 4 | Steve Smith | Top order |
| 5 | Cameron Green | All-rounder |
| 6 | Alex Carey (wk) | Wicketkeeper |
| 7 | Beau Webster | All-rounder |
| 8 | Pat Cummins (capt) | Pacer |
| 9 | Mitchell Starc | Pacer |
| 10 | Nathan Lyon | Spinner |
| 11 | Josh Hazlewood | Pacer |
Change from Darwin: Matt Renshaw replaces Jake Weatherald, who was dropped after scoring just 23 and 0 in the Darwin defeat. Renshaw returns to Test cricket for the first time since 2023 and takes over the opening slot, pushing Travis Head to bat at No. 1. Nathan Lyon keeps his place ahead of Scott Boland despite figures of 1/102 in Darwin, with Australia opting against an all-pace attack on a Mackay pitch expected to assist seamers.
Why the Changes?
Australia arrived at Mackay after a stunning 9-wicket loss in Darwin - their first-ever defeat to Bangladesh on home soil - and made the minimum change many expected, resisting the temptation to field four seamers. Bangladesh, by contrast, were reluctant to tinker with a winning combination at all; Simmons said before the match he "hardly likes to change winning XIs," but Shoriful's return offered a like-for-like pace option once he passed his fitness test.
Frequently Asked Questions
What changes did Australia make for the 2nd Test?
One change: Matt Renshaw comes in for Jake Weatherald at the top of the order.
What changes did Bangladesh make for the 2nd Test?
One change: Shoriful Islam comes in for Ebadot Hossain in the pace attack.
Who captains each side?
Najmul Hossain Shanto captains Bangladesh; Pat Cummins captains Australia.
Why was Jake Weatherald dropped?
He managed just 23 and 0 in the Darwin Test and has scored 117 runs in four innings in 2026, prompting Australia to recall the more experienced Matt Renshaw.
Did Australia consider four fast bowlers instead of Nathan Lyon?
Yes, it was debated, but Australia stuck with Lyon as the specialist spinner alongside Cummins, Starc, and Hazlewood.