What’s Next for Bangladesh? A Soul-Searching Inquiry into Test Cricket Woes

The question "What’s next for Bangladesh?" resurfaces with haunting regularity after every shambolic Test series. It is a query that has become a constant refrain for ardent followers of Bangladesh cricket, a refrain that echoes louder with each defeat. This sense of despair has taken root once more, following the team’s disastrous two-Test series in India. 

For a fleeting period under the stewardship of Chandika Hathurusingha, Bangladesh seemed to have shaken off this recurring nightmare. His tenure brought a semblance of structure and purpose, a belief that the Tigers could roar in the unforgiving arena of Test cricket. Yet, his departure marked the gradual erosion of that progress, and the haunting question has returned with renewed vigour, fueled by the team’s abject displays in Indore and Kolkata. 

A Legacy of Missed Opportunities 

To truly grasp the depths of Bangladesh’s struggles, one must juxtapose their current state with the trajectory of other nations. Bangladesh’s Test journey began 19 years ago—a significant span in the modern cricketing landscape. This period has seen Sri Lanka clinch historic victories abroad after 15 years of Test cricket and Afghanistan secure their maiden away win within just 18 months of entering the Test fold. 

Yet, Bangladesh’s narrative remains a tale of unfulfilled potential and squandered opportunities. Their failure to evolve from a fledgling Test side into a formidable force, both at home and abroad, has placed their credibility under scrutiny. 

The meek surrender against India in Indore and Kolkata is a stark reminder of this stagnation. These were not hard-fought losses but capitulations that exposed a lack of resolve, technique, and preparation. The first Test ended in just two and a half days, while the second, a historic pink-ball encounter, concluded even faster. At no point did Bangladesh appear to compete, let alone threaten to upset the formidable Indian side. 

The Kolkata Experiment: A Case of Mismanagement 

The pink-ball Test at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, could have been a momentous occasion for Bangladesh cricket—a chance to embrace innovation and showcase their adaptability. Instead, it became a symbol of their unpreparedness. 

Critics might argue that Bangladesh lacked experience with the pink ball, but so did their opponents. India’s initial struggles against the moving ball, particularly under lights, were evident when Ebadot Hossain and Al-Amin Hossain found a rhythm. Yet, the hosts adapted swiftly, while Bangladesh floundered. 

The decision to participate in this experimental fixture without adequate preparation raises uncomfortable questions. Why did the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) agree to such a high-stakes experiment without ensuring their players were ready? Was it a lack of foresight, or a disregard for the rigours of Test cricket? 

The inadequacies exposed in Kolkata mirrored those from the red-ball Test in Indore, rendering the pink-ball excuse moot. The core issue transcends the colour of the ball—it lies in the mindset and approach of the players. 

A Crisis of Commitment 

The most glaring deficiency in Bangladesh’s Test performances is not technical but attitudinal. The lack of patience, focus, and intent among the batsmen is glaring. Save for Mushfiqur Rahim’s gritty resistance, the rest of the batting lineup appeared disinterested, their technique unravelling under pressure. 

Defensive strokes were half-hearted, feet were static, and the inclination to poke outside off stump persisted unabated. The fundamental principles of Test batting—leaving the ball, playing straight, and building an innings—seemed alien concepts. 

This lack of application reflects a deeper malaise: a disinterest in the longest format of the game. Test cricket demands discipline, endurance, and a love for the grind—qualities that seem absent in the current crop of Bangladeshi cricketers. 

The BPL Distraction 

Adding to the malaise is the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), which serves as both a distraction and an escape route. After every humiliating Test series, the glitz and glamour of the BPL sweep the issues under the rug. The league, while entertaining, does little to address the structural and technical deficiencies that plague Bangladesh cricket. 

The focus shifts from introspection and rebuilding to the spectacle of T20 cricket, leaving the problems festering beneath the surface. 

What’s Next? The Need for Strict Action 

The time for excuses and half-measures has long passed. Bangladesh cricket is at a crossroads, and decisive action is imperative. 

1. Revamping Domestic Cricket: The foundation of any successful Test side is a robust domestic structure. The BCB must prioritize strengthening the National Cricket League (NCL) and Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL), ensuring they provide a breeding ground for technically sound and mentally resilient cricketers. 

2. Cultivating a Test Mindset: Players must be inculcated with the values of Test cricket—patience, discipline, and adaptability. This requires a cultural shift, led by coaches, senior players, and the board. 

3. Specialized Coaching: Hiring specialized coaches for red-ball cricket, focusing on batting against pace and swing, and fostering the art of bowling long spells is non-negotiable. 

4. Accountability: Players and administrators alike must be held accountable for poor performances. Transparent reviews and performance-based incentives can instil a sense of responsibility. 

5. Strategic Scheduling: Bangladesh must seek out challenging tours and matches against top-tier opponents to test their mettle. Exposure to tough conditions will accelerate their learning curve. 

 A Wake-Up Call 

Bangladesh’s Test status is not an entitlement; it is a privilege that demands respect and effort. The current approach undermines the passion of fans who have stood by the team through decades of mediocrity. It is an insult to the format itself, which remains the pinnacle of cricket. 

The path forward is arduous, but it is not insurmountable. Bangladesh must embrace the grind, confront their shortcomings, and reignite the spirit that once made them a promising force in world cricket. Only then can the haunting question—"What’s next for Bangladesh?"—be replaced with a more hopeful one: "How far can they go?"

Thank You

Faisal Caesar

Pale Bangladesh At Indore

In the twilight hours of the opening day at Indore, Abu Jayed brought a flicker of defiance to a Bangladeshi side beleaguered by an Indian juggernaut. His spirited spell of full-length deliveries outside off-stump was reminiscent of the grit Bangladesh fans have admired since 2015. While the Indian pacers had earlier dismantled Bangladesh’s batting with clinical precision, Jayed ensured the day ended with a reminder of the fight within the Tigers. His rhythm and determination carried into the second day, where he scalped the prized wickets of Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, and Ajinkya Rahane. 

Yet, Jayed’s efforts were tinged with what could have been. Had Imrul Kayes not dropped Mayank Agarwal in the slips on the first evening, Jayed might have celebrated a five-wicket haul. Instead, Agarwal went on to craft a monumental double century, turning the match into an extended Indian exhibition. 

India’s batting was relentless, almost cavalier, as they toyed with the Bangladeshi bowlers. The contrast was stark and painful: Bangladesh had crumbled for a mere 150 in their first innings, and now they bore the brunt of a masterclass in batting dominance. For the fans, it was a wound salted with every boundary and six. Yet, amidst the carnage, Abu Jayed symbolized a rare resistance—a fighting spirit desperately needed from his more seasoned teammates.

A Familiar Script Replayed

Realistically, few expected Bangladesh to topple this formidable Indian side, undefeated at home and brimming with talent. Yet, after 19 years in Test cricket, punctuated by sporadic signs of growth in the longer format, a spirited display was not an unreasonable expectation. Instead, the proceedings at Indore evoked memories of the early 2000s—a time when Bangladesh’s innings defeats were all too frequent. 

While the absence of stalwarts like Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan was significant, the onus fell on the experienced core of Mominul Haque, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and Imrul Kayes. These players, seasoned in the rigours of Test cricket, were expected to shoulder the burden and show resilience. Yet, their collective failure highlighted the team’s struggles to sustain the fight against adversity.

The Art of Survival: Lessons Unlearned

The Indian bowling unit operates like a well-oiled machine, relentlessly probing and exploiting every chink in the opposition’s armour. Countering such precision demands discipline, patience, and resolve—qualities Bangladesh sorely lacked. Technical deficiencies can be mitigated through mental fortitude, yet Bangladesh’s batters repeatedly succumbed to lapses in focus.

Imrul Kayes, after displaying early resilience, succumbed to an injudicious jab at a length ball, gifting his wicket cheaply. Mominul Haque, who had looked assured, inexplicably shouldered arms to a straighter delivery from Ravichandran Ashwin. Mahmudullah, too, fell to a tame sweep attempt, his middle stump rattled by another Ashwin gem. Such dismissals underscored a collective mental fragility rather than being outdone by moments of brilliance.

The second innings mirrored the first. Mushfiqur Rahim’s lone effort offered some respectability, but individual fifties or cameos cannot rescue a Test match. In the five-day format, it is centuries and sustained partnerships that turn the tide. 

A Forgotten Temperament

Not long ago, Bangladesh showcased the temperament required for Test cricket. Their historic win in Colombo against Sri Lanka under Chandika Hathurusingha’s tutelage was a testament to grit and perseverance. What has since eroded that fighting spirit? How has a team that once rose under pressure now regressed to a state of meek surrender in whites?

The answers to these questions are critical, for the gap between potential and performance grows wider. The Bangladesh Cricket Board must introspect and address the systemic issues plaguing the Test setup. Without a concerted effort to revive the lost temperament, Bangladesh risks falling further into mediocrity.

Conclusion: A Call for Introspection

Abu Jayed’s efforts at Indore were a rare beacon of hope in an otherwise dismal Test match. Yet, one man’s fight is insufficient in a team sport. Bangladesh’s journey in Test cricket, spanning nearly two decades, demands more than fleeting moments of brilliance. It calls for resilience, focus, and the ability to learn from past mistakes. 

As the dust settles on another crushing defeat, the hierarchy must act decisively. The time to merely hope for improvement is over. The Tigers must roar again—not in fleeting spells but with sustained vigour that earns them the respect and recognition they so deeply crave. 

Thank You

Faisal Caesar