Selectors opted against a red-ball change for what will be the team's first Test series in South Africa since the infamous "Sandpapergate" ball-tampering scandal in 2018.

While the Mackay Test ended inside two days, Shoriful Islam’s seven-wicket haul in the first innings attracted plenty of attention.

Losing Rabada for the Test series would be a huge blow for South Africa, who beat Australia in the World Test Championship final at Lord's last year when the 31-year-old took nine wickets.

With Nathan Lyon almost as iconic in Australian cricket as the baggy green cap worn by the nation's test players, selectors face a delicate task in managing a proud spinner whose role may be curtailed amid changing priorities.

Australia captain Pat Cummins praised his side for "all looking sharp" in a crushing innings and 51-run thrashing of Bangladesh in Mackay on Sunday as they emphatically bounced back from losing the first Test.

Australia have made only one change to their XI, with Matt Renshaw coming in for out-of-form opener Jake Weatherald.

Matthew Renshaw was the only change, replacing Jake Weatherald at the top of the order, while Lyon retained his place for the second Test against Bangladesh at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay.

There has never been a Test match at Mackay, the venue for the second and final Test of the Bangladesh-Australia series. Even first-class cricket has been played only sparingly at the ground, with just five matches held there.

Only a thumping win will do for Australia in the second Test against Bangladesh this week as they look to ease the embarrassment of their shock nine-wicket loss in Darwin and even up the two-match series.

On Saturday, the less abrasive Carey will walk onto Great Barrier Reef Arena as the seventh, his skill-set reflecting wicketkeeping fundamentals that Grout would have approved of as well as a run-scoring capacity now expected of modern glovemen.

The last time Bangladesh came close to following up a landmark away victory with a series win in a SENA country was in 2021/22, when they famously beat New Zealand in Mount Maunganui. An innings-and-117-run defeat in Christchurch followed inside three days. For many, it was simply Bangladesh reverting to type after producing something spectacular.

Shoriful Islam may have missed Bangladesh's historic Test victory over Australia in Darwin, but the left-arm pacer made sure he was there to celebrate it with his teammates.

Renshaw’s inclusion is not solely a reaction to Weatherald’s failure.

Hazlewood believes the pitch remains good for batting but said Australia need to build pressure rather than simply attack.

Australia captain Pat Cummins has confirmed the XI his side will use for the opening ICC World Test Championship contest against Bangladesh in Darwin.

Personal and team glory could await the returning quick Josh Hazlewood as he and his teammates prepare for an unprecedented period of Test cricket in the upcoming two-Test series against Bangladesh, starting next month.

Bangladesh Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto began Thursday's pre-tour press conference in an unusual way, turning the tables on journalists by asking what they expected from Bangladesh in the upcoming two-Test series against Australia.

Bangladesh are sweating over the fitness of T20 captain Litton Das ahead of the opening match of the three-match T20I series against Australia, which begins tomorrow at the Bir Shrestha Shaheed Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Cricket Stadium in Chattogram.

Bowlers laid the foundation and the batters held their nerve as Bangladesh scripted history, beating Australia by five wickets via DLS method in the second ODI of the three-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Thursday to seal their first-ever ODI series win over the Aussies.

Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka scored the first century of the 2026 T20 World Cup on Monday to put his side into the Super Eights and leave Australia on the brink of elimination.