‘Not every 23 years’: Shanto calls for regular Australia tours

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto wants his side to turn their breakthrough in Australia into a regular fixture, saying the team cannot afford to wait another two decades to experience conditions that remain largely unfamiliar.

“So, my request is that we want to play here consistently, not every 23 or 25 years,” Shanto said after Bangladesh suffered a heavy defeat in the second Test in Mackay on Sunday.

Bangladesh returned to Australia for a Test series for the first time in 23 years and stunned the hosts by winning the opening Test in Darwin by nine wickets.

The second Test was a very different story. Australia won inside two days after Bangladesh were bowled out for 64 and 95, with Mitchell Starc taking 10 wickets in the match.

Shanto admitted Bangladesh had been outplayed with the bat, although he felt the toss played a significant role in making the first innings particularly difficult.

“It’s disappointing, to be very honest. But I believe the toss is a big factor, especially in the first innings where batting was quite difficult,” he said.

“I believe all three innings were quite difficult, but no excuses; we didn’t bat well. They have been bowling very well, so the challenge was there.”

For Shanto, the stark difference between the two Tests underlined the need for Bangladesh to gain more exposure to Australian conditions.

“I think the pace and the bounce are quite challenging, and this experience will help,” he said. “It’s not easy to compete in these conditions against this quality of team.”

“It’s hard for the players. Probably 90% of the players have not played here. They don’t know how to adjust or cope with this kind of condition and this kind of bowling attack.

“If we are able to come consistently, then the players will have their ideas and experience, and they can adjust to these kinds of conditions and play good cricket,” he said.

Bangladesh’s fast bowlers provided encouragement despite the batting collapse. Shoriful Islam claimed seven wickets in the second Test, while the pace attack had also played a major role in the Darwin victory.

“I’m very happy with the way Hasan, Shoriful, and Taskin — all the fast bowlers — bowled in these conditions.

“Obviously, this is the one area we always talk about — taking 20 wickets. We have done it many times in the last few years, and this is a very good area that we are improving.”

The batting, however, remains the clearest concern.

“The one thing we need to improve as a batting unit in any condition is how we can score big runs because the bowlers are doing a great job,” said the skipper.

Despite the thumping defeat in the second Test, Shanto believe it did not overshadow their momentous win in Darwin.

“Have you forgotten the first Test? I certainly haven’t. And I don’t think the people of this country have forgotten either — nobody has,” Shanto said.

“It was a huge achievement. But in this match, we didn’t play good cricket, and that can happen.

“Look at who we beat. Watching this match will show you exactly which team we beat. So all things considered, I’d say this is definitely something to celebrate.”

Shanto hoped that the performance in Darwin would open the doors for more such tours Down Under in the near future.

“We should hope for it — that’s exactly what we want,” Shanto said of Bangladesh being invited back to Australia regularly.

“After all these years, to get a result like this, I think we absolutely deserve to be called up. And if we are, it’ll mean we get to understand these conditions ourselves, take on these challenges, and play good cricket — Inshallah, I believe that.”