Bangladesh have earned respect from those once reluctant to give it, says Ian Bishop
Bangladesh have been flooded with praise on social media following their historic nine-wicket Test victory over Australia in Darwin, with fans, former cricketers and analysts all lining up to salute Najmul Hossain Shanto's side, Ian Bishop prominent among them.
The West Indies great and popular commentator wrote on X that Bangladesh's achievement should finally earn them recognition that has too often been withheld. "Momentous achievement for Bangladesh Cricket, and the people of Bangladesh. Surely they're deserving of their flowers and just recognition now from those from whom it has previously been too sparse."
Bishop singled out several individual performances behind the win, while reserving particular praise for one bowler in specific. "Many contributors, Mehidy, Tanzid etc. But Hasan Mahmud in particular has been a very good line bowler for several years now when fully healthy, and possesses a lovely efficient, upright action. Happy for coach Phil Simmons and his squad."
Bangladesh bowled the hosts out for 198 in the first innings, built a substantial 426 in reply, and restricted Australia to 284 second time round to leave themselves needing just 57 to win, a target they chased down for the loss of only Tanzid Hasan Tamim to complete a dominant nine-wicket victory.
The scale of the achievement is reflected in the company Bangladesh now keep. Sri Lanka have never won a Test in Australia, and Pakistan's last victory there came in 1995. Bangladesh needed only three attempts to get theirs, the fastest of any Asian nation.
Hasan Mahmud, the bowler Bishop chose to highlight, finished the match with figures of 9 for 111, including a first-innings haul of 6 for 55, numbers that place him among an elite group of visiting bowlers on their maiden Test appearance in the country. Miraz and Tanzid, the other two names Bishop mentioned, contributed a five-wicket haul and half-century, and a maiden Test century respectively, both instrumental in turning the match decisively in Bangladesh's favour.
For a side that has spent years being politely tolerated rather than genuinely respected by the sport's traditional powers, Bishop's words landed as validation of everything Bangladesh have been trying to prove, not just in Darwin, but across a broader pattern of results that includes a win in New Zealand and a series victory in Pakistan.