Bangladesh played their first Test against India on November 10, 2000. They started on a sensational note, scoring 400 against a near full-strength Indian team. But things went belly up in the second innings, as they were shot out for 91 and India won the match easily.
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For a long time, that was the case with the Tigers. They would do well in one innings and have a shocker in the other, be it one-days or Tests. They had to wait until 2005 for their first win in the five-day game and that was against Zimbabwe. In all, Bangladesh have won just seven Tests in 91 outings and only two of them came against a ‘major’ side – the West Indies (however, it was against a second-string Caribbean team).
For many years, it was felt Bangladesh had been awarded Test status too early and in fact during the 2003 series against Australia, the late David Hookes urged the Aussies to finish off their Test in one day. But such impatience was unfair. India won Test status in 1932 and had to wait for 20 years to register their first win in the five-day game. The Kiwis started playing Tests in 1930 and it wasn’t until 1956 that they tasted success.
Congratulations to the Bangladesh Cricket Team for its first-ever ODI series win against India! #GoTigers #INDvBan pic.twitter.com/l25TSjAUlt
— Ramiz Raja (@SirRamizRaja) June 21, 2015
Unfortunately for the Tigers, people are not so keen to wait in the 21st century. They need results right away. They did get some famous ODI wins under their belt – most notably against the mighty Aussies in 2005 and against India in the 2007 World Cup which ousted the heavyweights from the tournament. But they still weren’t getting ‘respect’ from the cricketing world.
But over the past season or so, things have started to change. Though their Test results are yet to reflect that change in momentum, their performances in one-dayers indicate that something big is around the corner.
They have enjoyed a superb 2015, highlighted by their efforts in the World Cup. They reached the quarter-finals of the 50-over showpiece and defeated England en route. Against the Indians in the last eight clash, they had kept the men in blue in check for the majority of the first innings before Rohit Sharma broke free, after getting a lifeline from the umpire over a no-ball call. Bangladesh lost that game but proved that they have become genuinely competitive.
They continued that superb form against Pakistan at home, spanking their much fancied opponents 3-0 in the ODI series. All three wins were so comprehensive that the Pakistan Cricket Board is contemplating launching an inquiry into the debacle.
India expected a tough fight in their short series but they were thoroughly dominant in the one-off Test two weeks back despite rain cutting the match short. However, the ODIs have been a completely different story.
The first match in Dhaka was one of the most all-round performances by the Bangladeshis against a top-notch side as they first posted 307 before blowing Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s full-strength team away for 228. What made the win even more commendable was the fact that eight wickets were snared by seam bowlers, including five by young left-armer Mustafizur Rahman.
Wonder-boy makes #history https://t.co/rXqJqcgkjA #Mustafiz #BANvsIND #Cricket #WonderBoy pic.twitter.com/LQpJEJE9Ln
— DhakaTribune (@DhakaTribune) June 22, 2015
The second ODI went on similar lines and it is clear that this is a different Bangladesh side. They have some brilliant batting prowess in the form of Tamim Iqbal, who now has 13 international centuries, and Mominul Haque, who has scored an incredible 11 fifties in Test matches on the trot (a feat managed only by the likes of Viv Richards, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and AB de Villiers).
Their captaincy is in the capable hands of wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim (in Tests) and seamer Mashrafe Mortaza (in ODIs) with the ever reliable Shakib Al Hasan there to provide more support.
It’s the bowling that has made a big difference in Bangladesh’s fortunes of late, especially in the pace department. They have some genuine quicks in the form of Rubel Hossain and young tearaway Taskin Ahmed. Rubel stole the show with his four-wicket burst against England at the World Cup while Ahmed already has 21 wickets from 14 matches in his short but impressive career.
Left arm seamer Rahman, in fact, has been nearly unplayable with his change of pace and has 11 wickets from two matches against India in the ongoing series.
All these factors point to Bangladesh beginning to justify their Test status. Though the positive results are confined to the limited overs arena as of now, the solid base that their game now enjoys should allow them to scale new heights in Test matches.
Though it has taken Bangladesh 15 years to act like a Test playing nation, they are finally doing so. Their fast bowling resources are looking very healthy and they have some solid batting to fall back upon. Their seniors are at that perfect age (Rahim and Shakib are 28 while Tamim is 26) when they can take the team to next level. All they now have to do is deliver on that promise.
