Cummins and Shanto reflect on a remarkable series

Two Tests produced two dramatically different stories, leaving Australia and Bangladesh with very different reasons to reflect after their series ended level in Mackay.

Bangladesh stunned Australia by nine wickets in Darwin to take an unexpected 1-0 lead. A week later, Australia responded with an innings-and-51-run victory inside two days, turning the final Test into one of the most emphatic reversals of momentum in the series.

Australia captain Pat Cummins was delighted with the way his side responded.

The hosts had been heavily criticised after their performance in Darwin, but Cummins felt the response began with the intensity they brought from the opening ball in Mackay.

"We wanted to come out and make a statement," Cummins said.

Australia's bowlers certainly did that.

Mitchell Starc destroyed Bangladesh's first innings with 6 for 12 and returned to finish with a match haul of 10 for 51. Cummins also contributed three wickets in Bangladesh's second innings, while Nathan Lyon claimed three.

For Cummins, however, the performance with the bat was equally encouraging.

Cameron Green followed his century in Darwin with a valuable 67 in Mackay, providing Australia with the stability they needed after losing wickets regularly around him.

"Cameron has been fantastic," Cummins said. "To back up the hundred with another really important innings shows the confidence he is building."

Starc's contribution was impossible to overlook.

The veteran left-armer's ten-wicket haul earned him both Player of the Match and Player of the Series recognition, but his performance was also symbolic of Australia's response after the Darwin setback.

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, meanwhile, chose to focus on what his team gained from the tour rather than dwell solely on the heavy defeat.

Bangladesh may have been overwhelmed in Mackay, but they leave Australia having achieved their first Test victory against the hosts on Australian soil.

"We showed our character," Shanto said.

He also believes the experience will be valuable for Bangladesh, particularly because the players had to confront conditions that are very different from those they regularly encounter at home.

Shanto stressed the importance of Bangladesh getting more opportunities to play Test cricket in Australia.

"We need to play more Tests in these conditions," he said.

The series also produced a major individual breakthrough for Bangladesh.

Shoriful Islam claimed 7 for 48 in Australia's first innings in Mackay, the best innings figures by a Bangladesh bowler in an away Test. His performance offered a rare bright spot in a match dominated by Australia's pace attack.

The two matches therefore leave both sides with contrasting conclusions.

Australia will remember the series for their recovery after a stunning defeat in Darwin.

Bangladesh will remember it for the same defeat-but also for the lessons that followed in Mackay.

The final scoreline reads 1-1.

The story is more complicated.

Darwin proved Bangladesh could shock Australia. Mackay proved Australia could answer back.