It was a cruel joke, but after Bangladesh were dismissed for 54 in their warm-up game in Australia, a social media post suggested they were not good enough to play there; even that Australia could win the Darwin Test in a day. Others helpfully dug up similar posts from the past from the likes of Steve Waugh and David Hookes.
Predictably, for countries which believe that only the Ashes mean anything, England are on the threshold of figuring out how they could have won in Australia with old-fashioned cricket unadulterated by Bazball, while Australia are contemplating taking an axe to their team. What was surprising about the win was that as the match progressed, it began to look less surprising, and progressed to the inevitable. The greatest upset in cricket? The victory might not change things overnight — there is a Test in Mackay to come, and despite what happened in Darwin, Australia are no pushovers.
The visitors won every session against a full-strength side whose four main bowlers each had over 300 Test wickets! Well, at least since India beat England at the Oval 55 years ago.
Bangladesh, who last played there 23 years ago, were playing only their third Test in Australia. Tanzid Hasan’s century and Shanto’s 84 ensured his work didn’t go in vain. And when Mehidy Hasan followed his 65 with a five-for bowling quality off spin, Bangladesh had written themselves into history in four days.
David slaying Goliath, a condescending, contemptuous Goliath is the most thrilling of sporting results. When a ninth-ranked team, looked down upon by the top-ranked, shows who’s boss, we are reminded again why we love sport. They are a cricket-mad country, full of passion and talent (and like their Asian counterparts, full of politics too) and deserve better. India had to wait till their 12th Test for a win. I am not sure the Bangladesh players are getting the credit they deserve. There was Hasan Mahmud’s controlled pace which saw him take six wickets in the first innings, restrict Australia and give birth to hope. How much will things change? How much have Bangladesh overturned expectations for the foreseeable future? Have they moved from the edge closer to the centre as a team?
Skipper Shanto said after the match that the entire team deserved the player-of-the-match award, and he isn’t too far wrong.