Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has called their historic victory over Australia in the first Test in Darwin their “biggest win so far in any format.” Bangladesh, ranked ninth in Tests, shocked the world No. 1 Test side in their backyard in all departments and took an unassailable 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
It was only the third Test Bangladesh were playing on Australian soil and they trounced a full-strength Australian side, who are also leading the World Test Championship points table, by nine wickets, ESPN said.
“This is the biggest win so far for Bangladesh in any format,” Shanto said at the presentation. “Going forward, we will do something special in the future.
Shanto was effusive in praise on his fast bowlers, who took all 10 wickets in the first innings to bundle Australia for 198 before a five-for from Mehidy Hasan Miraz helped wrap up the hosts for 284 in the second attempt that gave Bangladesh a target of just 57.
“That [the rise of fast bowlers] is the biggest change in Bangladesh cricket in the Test format,” Shanto said, according to ESPN.
“Normally, five-six years ago, the pace bowlers didn’t want to play Test cricket since we didn’t play enough Test cricket. But in the last two-three years we’ve been playing lots of Test matches and the boys are giving importance to Test format.
“They now want to play, they want to perform because they want to be world-class. That is the mindset they now have. Especially the senior guys, like Mushfiqur Rahim and Mominul Haque, they helped them a lot to encourage to play more Test cricket. So those are the areas they think and mindset”, he said.
Bangladesh’s memorable win was also set up by opener Tanzid Hasan‘s 101 in the first innings which gave them a lead of 228 by posting 426.
Discussion