Today marks 25 years since Bangladesh’s Test cricket debut. On this day in 2000, Bangladesh played their first-ever Test match against India. Over the past 25 years, the journey of Bangladesh in Test cricket has been one of progress and challenges. Here’s a look at the key milestones and the stars who have shone the brightest during this journey.
In 154 Test matches, Bangladesh has secured 23 victories. Out of these, three have been won by an innings, with the largest win coming against the West Indies. However, Bangladesh has also faced 112 defeats, 47 of which were by innings. The biggest loss, like the largest win, was also against the West Indies.
Bangladesh set a remarkable record during their debut Test by scoring 400 runs in their first innings. But it wasn’t until 2012 that they surpassed the 500-run mark in a Test, against the West Indies at Mirpur. Just a few months later, in March 2013, they reached the 600-run milestone, posting 638 against Sri Lanka in Galle — a record for the highest team score in Tests for Bangladesh. Since then, the team has passed the 500-run mark 10 more times but has never crossed 600 again.
The experience of being bowled out for under 100 runs came in Bangladesh’s very first Test, where they followed their 400-run first innings with a paltry 91 all-out in the second innings. Since then, Bangladesh has been bowled out for under 100 on 12 occasions, with one instance in 2018, when they were dismissed for just 43 runs in Antigua against the West Indies.
Top Performers in Bangladesh’s Test Cricket History
Most Tests Played: Mushfiqur Rahim
Mushfiqur Rahim holds the record for the most Test matches played for Bangladesh. The wicketkeeper-batsman has featured in 98 Test matches during his 20-year career. If all goes well, he will reach the 100 Test milestone in the upcoming second Test against Ireland.
Mushfiqur also holds the record for most tosses won in Test cricket for Bangladesh, having captained the team in 34 Tests. Under his leadership, Bangladesh won 7 Test matches, the most by any Bangladeshi captain.
Highest Test Runs: Mushfiqur Rahim
Mushfiqur is also the highest run-scorer in Bangladesh’s Test cricket history, having scored 6,328 runs at an average of 38.12. He has scored 12 centuries, including 3 double centuries. His personal best came in 2018 when he scored a record-breaking 219 runs against Zimbabwe at Mirpur, which remains the highest individual score in Bangladesh’s Test history.
Record-Breaking Partnerships: Mushfiqur and Shakib
Mushfiqur’s record for the highest partnership in Tests is also notable. In 2017, during the Test against New Zealand in Wellington, he shared a mammoth 359-run fifth-wicket partnership with Shakib Al Hasan.
Top Bowler: Shakib Al Hasan
Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh’s all-time number one bowler, has taken 246 wickets in 71 Tests. However, another left-arm spinner, Taijul Islam, is poised to overtake Shakib as he currently needs only 10 more wickets to surpass him. Apart from these two, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, an off-spinner, has also crossed the 200-wicket mark in Tests.
Best Bowling Figures in a Test Match
Taijul Islam holds the record for the best match figures by a Bangladeshi bowler. In 2014, he took 8 wickets for 39 runs in a Test against Zimbabwe at Mirpur, breaking Shakib Al Hasan’s previous record.
Most Wickets in a Match: Mehedi Hasan Miraz
Mehedi Hasan Miraz also made history by taking 12 wickets in a match on two occasions. His best performance came in 2018 against the West Indies in Mirpur, where he claimed 12 wickets for 117 runs.
Catching Records: Mominul Haque and Mehedi Hasan Miraz
Mominul Haque holds the record for the most catches by a Bangladeshi fielder in Test cricket, with 42 catches. Mehedi Hasan Miraz follows closely with 41 catches.
Most Dismissals as a Wicketkeeper: Liton Das
As a wicketkeeper, Liton Das holds the record for the most dismissals in Bangladesh’s Test history with 114. He has taken 99 catches and made 15 stumpings.
Looking Ahead
As Bangladesh celebrates 25 years in Test cricket, these performances and records reflect not just the challenges but the progress the team has made. With emerging talents like Shakib, Taijul, and Liton, the future looks bright for Bangladesh in Test cricket. While the team still has much to prove on the international stage, their journey over the past quarter-century has certainly laid a solid foundation for the years to come.