Australia are massive favourites to level the series in the AUS vs BAN 2nd Test, priced as short as 1/7 even after their shock nine-wicket loss in Darwin.
Bangladesh arrive in Mackay 1-0 up, one result away from their first-ever Test series win over Australia. The five-day contest starts Saturday, August 22, 2026, at the newly christened Great Barrier Reef Arena.
Here is the full match preview, odds, pitch report, and predicted XIs.
AUS vs BAN 2nd Test: Match Details
| Details | Info |
|---|---|
| Match | Australia vs Bangladesh, 2nd Test (NRMA Insurance Test), Bangladesh tour of Australia 2026 |
| Dates | Saturday, August 22 to Wednesday, August 26, 2026 |
| Start Time (IST) | 5:30 AM |
| Local Start (AEST) | 10:00 AM, Mackay |
| Venue | Great Barrier Reef Arena (Harrup Park), Mackay, Queensland |
| Series Score | Bangladesh lead 1-0 |
| Format | 2-match Test series, ICC World Test Championship |
| Live Streaming (India) | JioHotstar / Star Sports |
| TV (Australia) | Channel Seven, 7plus, Kayo Sports, Foxtel |
This is the first men’s Test ever played at Mackay. So there’s genuine history on the line before a ball gets bowled.
A win or a draw for Bangladesh here hands them a maiden Test series victory over Australia, home or away.
AUS vs BAN 2nd Test Odds and Win Probability
Bookmakers barely blinked after Darwin. Australia remain overwhelming favourites, largely because they field a near full-strength XI and still hold home advantage.
| Outcome | Odds (bet365) | Implied Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Australia to win | 1/7 (≈1.14) | ~87.5% |
| Bangladesh to win | 17/2 (≈9.50) | ~10.5% |
| Draw | 12/1 (≈13.00) | ~7.7% |
Indicative odds only. Markets move fast, so check the live price on your platform before placing any wager.
Other bookmakers price Australia even shorter. One market tracked by Source has the hosts at 1.06 in decimal odds, with Bangladesh out to 7.05.
That gap shows how much the market still trusts Australia at home, Darwin result or not.
Player of the Match Odds
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Steve Smith (AUS) | 5/1 |
| Travis Head (AUS) | 11/2 |
| Mitchell Starc (AUS) | 11/2 |
| Pat Cummins (AUS) | 13/2 |
Great Barrier Reef Arena Pitch and Weather Report
There’s no Test history to lean on here since Mackay hosts its first red-ball international this weekend.
The ground becomes Australia’s 12th men’s Test venue, and just the fourth in Queensland after the Gabba, Brisbane’s old Exhibition Ground, and Cairns’ Cazaly’s Stadium.
Recent first-class evidence hints at some early seam movement. Brendan Doggett took 6-15 here in October 2024 as Australia A beat India A comfortably.
But the surface can flatten out too. Matthew Renshaw, recalled for this Test, remains the only player with two first-class hundreds at the ground, with 135 and 170 in separate Sheffield Shield innings.
So expect a surface that can offer bowlers something early, then reward batters who dig in.
As for the weather, Mackay stays cool and largely dry through the Test. The Bureau of Meteorology has daytime highs around 23°C with only a slight shower risk on the opening days, easing further into the match.
AccuWeather’s forecast backs that up, with highs between 22°C and 24°C and overnight lows around 16°C to 17°C across all five days.
There’s a small chance of a passing shower early on. But nothing that looks likely to wash out a session.
First Test Recap: How Bangladesh Stunned Australia in Darwin
Bangladesh produced one of Test cricket’s great upsets, beating Australia by nine wickets at Marrara Stadium.
Australia were bowled out for 198 after losing the toss. Bangladesh then piled up 426 in reply, a lead too big to survive.
Australia fought back with 284 in their second innings, driven by a Cameron Green century. But it only set Bangladesh a target of 57.
Mominul Haque and Shadman Islam knocked off the runs inside four days, sealing the win before tea.
Hasan Mahmud walked away with nine wickets in the match and the Player of the Match award. Tanzid Hasan scored a maiden Test century, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz added a fifty plus a five-wicket haul.
It was Bangladesh’s first Test win on Australian soil in just their third attempt, and only their second red-ball win over Australia ever.
Their first came at Mirpur in 2017, when Shakib Al Hasan starred with 89 runs and 10 wickets in a 20-run win. Australia responded by winning the next Test to level that series.
The loss also cost Australia in the World Test Championship. Their points percentage dropped from 87.50 to 77.78, though it remains only their second loss of the current cycle.
Australia vs Bangladesh Head-to-Head Test Record
Australia hold a commanding 5-2 record over Bangladesh in Tests, spread across seven meetings since 2003.
| Details | Info |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 7 |
| Won by AUS | 5 |
| Won by BAN | 2 |
| Bangladesh wins on Aussie soil | 1 (Darwin, 2026) |
| Bilateral series played | 4 |
| Series won by AUS | 2 |
| Series drawn | 1 |
| Series currently | Bangladesh lead 1-0 |
Australia have won every previous Test they played against Bangladesh on home turf, until Darwin broke that run.
Bangladesh have still never won a bilateral series against Australia. A draw or win in Mackay changes that for good.
AUS vs BAN 2nd Test Predicted Playing XIs
Here is the Predicted XI of both Teams:
Australia (AUS)
Travis Head, Matthew Renshaw, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
Matthew Renshaw comes in for the axed Jake Weatherald, who managed just 23 and 0 in Darwin. It looks like a straight swap at the top of the order.
Scott Boland and Josh Inglis are both fit and available after sitting out Darwin, giving Cummins bench cover if needed.
Bangladesh (BAN)
Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Hasan Mahmud, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury.
Bangladesh look unlikely to tinker with a winning XI. Shoriful Islam has passed his fitness test and is available, but he may not force his way into a bowling attack that just dismantled Australia twice.
Nahid Rana stays unavailable, having flown home for side-strain rehab.
Probable Best Performers
Here are the Best Performers from both sides:
Probable Best Batter: Travis Head
Travis Head carries genuine form into a ground where he already has history. He struck 142 off 103 balls at this venue in an ODI against South Africa last year.
His counter-attacking style suits a new pitch too, since early boundaries can blunt any assistance the bowlers get.
Probable Best Bowler: Hasan Mahmud
Hasan Mahmud arrives in career-best form after a match-winning nine-wicket haul in Darwin. Confidence rarely runs higher than this for a fast bowler.
His skiddy pace and control troubled Australia’s top order all through the first Test, and there’s no reason that changes on a fresh Mackay surface.
Australia X-Factor: Matthew Renshaw
Matthew Renshaw is the recall that could decide this Test. He’s the only man with two first-class hundreds at this exact ground.
If Australia’s top order wobbles again like it did in Darwin, Renshaw’s familiarity with these conditions becomes the difference-maker.
Key Milestones on the Line at Mackay
Several individual landmarks add extra spice to this Test.
| Player | Milestone |
|---|---|
| Alex Carey | Plays his 50th Test, becoming the 7th Australian keeper to reach the mark |
| Steve Smith | 50 runs from passing Steve Waugh (10,927) as Australia’s third-highest Test run-scorer |
| Steve Smith | 1 catch away from moving past Joe Root; both tied at 218 Test catches |
| Cameron Green | 101 runs from 1,000 Test runs on Australian soil |
| Mitchell Starc | 3 wickets from 400 international wickets (Tests, ODIs, T20Is combined) in Australia |
| Mushfiqur Rahim | 158 runs from 7,000 Test runs, which would make him the first Bangladeshi to reach that mark |
Alex Carey’s batting average of 35.55 already ranks second among Australian wicketkeepers, behind only Adam Gilchrist’s 47.60.
AUS vs BAN 2nd Test Prediction
Australia go in as clear favourites, and the numbers back that up. A near full-strength XI, home conditions, and a fresh venue tend to favour the side with more depth.
Still, Bangladesh arrive with nothing to fear. They have already beaten this attack once, and Hasan Mahmud looks close to unplayable right now.
Expect Australia to bat with more discipline than Darwin and push hard for early wickets with the new ball. Renshaw’s runs at this venue could settle their top order.
But a draw is well within Bangladesh’s reach if their top order bats out time, and that alone would be enough to write history.
Our call leans Australia to win and level the series, though the draw price at 12/1 offers real value given how well Bangladesh have travelled so far.
