Bangladesh’s success in Test cricket was short-lived, with one win in both editions of the Test World Cup and just six wins in 32 matches since January 2018. Bangladesh’s winning percentage of 18.75 is the lowest in the past five years, excluding Ireland, where he has not won a single test. Against England in 2016 and against Australia in 2017 are two of his cricket highlights for Bangladesh, including two high-profile victories. But looking back over the past few years, there is a void in the back view of their Test cricket, The Mirror.
In his first WTC he played four test matches and after losing all four, Bangladesh hoped to perform well in the second edition. But a lot of negativity surrounded the lead up to Bangladesh’s second WTC campaign, which came close on the heels of their poor showing in the 2021 T20 World Cup and a 3-0 blanking at home in the T20I series against Pakistan. Ahead of the Test series against Pakistan in November-December 2021, then skipper Mominul Haque had said:
“You will get a picture of the direction our Test team is taking in this, and some of the future series. We definitely have long-term plans in Tests. We want to build slowly, and within a series or two we will know where our Test team stands.”
Although the start of this new direction wasn’t great, with Bangladesh losing 2-0 at home to Pakistan, their biggest overseas achievement was soon to follow. Riding on a collective batting show, Bangladesh put up a strong performance in reply to New Zealand’s 328 in Mount Maunganui, scoring 458 in their first innings which set up their eight wicket victory against the first WTC champions. However, they lost the next Test by an inning and 117 carries, with the batsmen letting them down in the first inning.