The past week has breathed life into Test cricket, the sport’s venerable old lady.
In the space of 15 hours, West Indies ran down 322 to beat England at Leeds, while Bangladesh recorded a 20-run win over Australia at Mirpur.
Just as one swallow doesn’t make a drunk, these results in isolation are not guaranteed to bring about extended periods of success for either team.
But, there is no doubting the importance of the two matches played thousands of kilometres apart.
The West Indies, a one-time all conquering juggernaut, has been in a seemingly perennial malaise slipping to the ignominy of number eight in the world.
Bangladesh’s victory was a historic result – its first win over Australia.
The crowd swelled at Mirpur as the seminal moment approached. Even the Prime Minister, a cricket fan herself, arrived to see the last rites.
The triumph continued an upward trend for a country that has carried the moniker of ‘minnow’ since they were granted Test status in 2000.
The country’s first 34 Tests – before its maiden win against Zimbabwe at Chittagong in 2005 – resulted in 31 losses and three draws.
That first up win over Zimbabwe was followed by another drought – 24 matches for 21 losses and three draws.
In those first 58 Tests, 33 were lost by more than an innings. It was a baptism of fire.
Finally, in recent times, the positives have outweighed the negatives.
At home in July last year, Bangladesh played out two rain-affected draws against South Africa.
In the first Test it took a 78-run lead on the first innings before the match was washed out soon after.
In October, it completed a one-all draw against England. The tourists win at Chittagong was by a mere 22 runs, leaving the hosts just shy of a series sweep.
In Sri Lanka in March, Bangladesh again played out a one-all draw.
Given Australia’s visit to Sri Lanka last year resulted in a three-nil loss it showed how much Bangladesh has improved.
And yesterday, it took Australia down.
The current team boasts some handy players, headed up by Shakib Al Hasan who made 84 and captured ten wickets with his left-arm spin.
(AP Photo/A.M. Ahad)
That performance solidified his number one all-rounder ranking ahead of the likes of Ben Stokes, Ravi Ashwin and Moeen Ali.
Off-spinner Mehidy Hasan has 40 wickets at 31.4 from his first eight Tests and 21-year-old paceman, Mustafizur Rahman has taken 12 wickets at 24.9 in his first five appearances.
Tamim Iqbal’s knocks of 71 and 78 have elevated his 50-match Test average to 40.3, while wicket-keeping skipper Mushfiqur averages 35.4.
Bangladesh now faces two challenges – one immediate and the other longer term.
Firstly, it has the opportunity to sweep the current series. It will take a large measure of confidence into Chittagong, where Australia will be under the pump and nervous.
From there, it is a matter of Bangladesh showing it can match it with the better teams overseas, especially beyond the sub-continent. That will be the real acid test.
For West Indies, the Leeds result was a triumph of epic proportions.
England had just downed South Africa 3-1 and beaten the Windies in the first Test at Birmingham by an innings and 209 runs.
The prospect of a Caribbean victory at Headingley appeared a nigh impossibility.
Clearly, Jason Holder’s men had not read the script.
A fit and rejuvenated Kemar Roach along with Shannon Gabriel combined for eight wickets as England was dismissed well inside stumps on the opening day for 258.
Centuries to Kraigg Braithwaite (134) and Shai Hope (147) helped secure a 169-run first innings lead.
When England declared, however, at 8/490 and with a lead of 321 runs it seemed inevitable the hosts would take an assailable 2-nil series lead.
Again, it was Braithwaite (95) and Hope (118no) who dominated the England bowling, guiding the tourists to a five-wicket win.
Their match-winning performances came against a seasoned and experienced attack – James Anderson (497 wickets), Stuart Broad (386), Stokes (89) and Ali (128).
Hopefully, for the likes of Braithwaite and Hope their efforts will prove to be a seminal moment in their careers.
Holder is a young captain who, by all reports, is a popular leader. This win will infinitely boost his confidence.
His team will head to Lord’s for the decider with genuine belief, a commodity not in abundance in recent years.
For too long the West Indies have been searching for a potential catalyst. Leeds may have provided it.
Contract and selection dramas have often captured more headlines in recent times than on-field performances.
(AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
The current side’s showing at Leeds has given both Caribbean fans and the media something positive to talk about.
By dint of its history as an English sport that was transported to the colonies, cricket has a finite and small constituency of any note.
The recent anointing of Afghanistan and Ireland with Test status has expanded the number of nations at the very top to a dozen.
Test cricket has been fighting a battle for relevance in many people’s eyes in recent years.
The proliferation of Twenty20 leagues with their glitz, glamour and increasingly appealing salaries allied to dwindling Test crowds and frequent one-sided series has brought pressure to bear on the longest form of the game.
For it to prosper in this modern era, serious competition between the select group of Test-playing teams is crucial.
Hopefully, performances like those we have seen in the past week will be a precursor to a more competitive Test arena.
DavSA
Guest
Will , India will be touring South Africa soon . I will wager full stadiums or close to it for the series . South Africa has not achieved what it has these past 20 years in test cricket by undervaluing the format . Aus will then tour and expect more of the same .
Brasstax
Guest
"India, the best side according to the rankings, got flogged by Australia at home" What???
Will
Guest
Test cricket is irrelevant in many countries. These two results wont change that. Outside India, Australia and England, it is hard to see how test cricket can flourish? Sure, every now and then there will be an upset, although I'd argue that Australia losing to Bangladesh, after losing the toss, does not exactly qualify as an upset considering recent history. Most people here and in England only care about the Ashes. Test cricket is in an inexorable downtrend, this is just a dead cat bounce.
DavSA
Guest
Great article Glen as it stands so relevant and pertinent in the current World cricket structures today . So much is being made of how desperately test cricket needs a day night format when far more important issues are not being boldly addressed. In a previous article on the roar the salaries of the Bangladesh players came to light . An Aussie , English or Indian cricketer would not even get out of bed for that money . Talented West Indian sportsmen are looking at other codes to make a living . South Africa are losing a constant stream of top players for more lucrative salaries . Afghanistan needs a leg up as does Zimbabwe . They are both very capable to producing competitive teams but need support . Instead the ICC sidelines all these countries favouring those with of course the most money and certainly don't need any help . An Indaba ( meeting of all) needs to take place and the growth and development of World cricket must be first , second and third on the agenda . This can only be to the benefit of all countries including the big 3. Thank you WI and Bangladesh . You have done our game proud and probably certainly in Australia's case ironically done them a big favour too .
AGordon
Guest
another excellent article Glenn and it's great to see both the Windies and the Bangladeshis gaining in confidence and belief. As always though with my comments, there is a but!!!! The fielding in the Test in England, especially the catching, was appalling Both Cook and Root should have been out to simple catches before they'd made double figures in the first innings, as should have Stokes, etc. The England side was almost as bad. The pitch in Bangladesh was such that if you batted first, you were almost a shoe in to at least draw the game. Again, I take nothing away from the win in the First Test but should a Test match be decided at the toss? One final thought. It's really interesting to see the lack of consistency in Test match play in recent years It seems gone are the days when sides could establish a "dynasty" when sides played consistently well. India, the best side according to the rankings, got flogged by Australia at home, yet the Aussies, in similar conditions in Bangladesh, lost. I think it really comes down to temperament and to a lesser degree, technique. Cummings & Agar don't have great technique in comparison to specialist batsmen, but have great temperament. I think this is what Boof needs to focus on, moving forward with the Aussies
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Shai Hope was Shai Hopeless before that test. Roarer would have dropped him long before Headingly.
AGordon
Guest
BANGladesh
josh
Roar Rookie
Is it BANG-ladesh of BAN-gladesh?
Ed Nixon
Roar Pro
I was really impressed with Hope and Brathwaite in the last test, and they really bossed the England bowlers. They did a brilliant job frustrating England, especially Broad and the team showed some character to come back from an absolute mauling only a week ago. The Australia series comes down to playing spin - something the Aussies' don't do particularly well. That second innings was such a typical Australian batting innings in Asia, with only Warner and Smith (to a certain extent) looking like they could actually score runs. It'll be interesting to see how Test 2 takes shape.
Johnno
Guest
And on a side note the days of calling Bangladesh a sydney 1st grade side are over now..
JamesH
Roar Guru
It might not be what the media meant, but it was still humiliating in terms of the way we unravelled. So many cross-batted shots on a pitch that was keeping low. That's the sort of stuff you teach u13s not to do.
Peter
Roar Rookie
Finally we don't need to be patronising to the Windies & Bangladesh anymore.
matth
Guest
NZ cricket is not flush for cash and would need the extra money. Try to look on the bright side, that without the ODI money, even 4 tests may be a stretch.
spruce moose
Guest
The creation of AFLX won't be for this market... it will be to promote the game overseas. They are following the rugby sevens blueprint.
GY
Guest
Well said Perry. I think the windies board will relax the qualification for selection going forward, and we'll see less exiled players too
BurgyGreen
Guest
Bangladesh is certainly on the rise but I think it's equally valid to say that the quality of the big teams is dropping quite dramatically. And poor cricket, even if it's close cricket, can't entertain forever. Consider the number of catches dropped in the England v WI game, and the hapless batting of Australia against Bangladesh. I'm not sure this is a win for Test cricket. West Indies are still not close to a quality team, and while Bangladesh are genuinely formidable at home they will likely be made to look mediocre overseas.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Test cricket's health has a direct relationship to FC crickets health, that is why I am worried about the future of Test cricket, because FC cricket has fallen off the map, especially here in Aus. My other concern is that the BBL league is marketed as the exciting version of cricket. The obvious take away from that for kids is that the other versions are boring, or at least less exciting. I can already see anecdotally that kids look down on the longer formats, almost with a civil code war style derision towards Test cricket. The one thing that my generation of cricketers(90's-mid2000's) failed the game in my opinion is not passing on the history and traditions of the game in a wider sense. When I was growing up I was the only one in my very small family to be remotely interested in sport let alone cricket, but I still got a great sense of history and cricket lore from the TV coverage and the wider cricket community. With the internet now part of our lives you would think that would have increased, but I think this lack of passing on history is letting down the game badly in the long run. Hopefully this week is a sign of things to come and when the ICC finally brings in a Test league of some kind it will reinvigorate the game in those countries that have seen interest in Test and FC cricket fall by the wayside.
Sydneysider
Guest
it's all about money, that's all.
Giri Subramanian
Roar Guru
I think it is not that much that test cricket is dying but it is that fans in few countries have lost their interest in this format. Bangladesh have always had the enthusiasm irrespective of the format their team plays in but WI fans have almost boycotted test cricket. In the 90's we used to have a carnival atmosphere when WI played tests but now we see empty stands with few people scattered here and there. Their win against England will probably bring back the crowds to the game. This also augurs well for the new teams on the block Afghanistan and Ireland. So when the lower ranked teams start upsetting the higher ranked teams, things will only get better.
Troy Merritt
Guest
Whilst I think this week has been great and given us two excellent close matches, I think that the death of test cricket is always grossly overstated. It's always going to have a smaller following than T20, it's just the nature of game and it's pop appeal. If there was a form of AFL that went for 5 days, there is no way it would have the following that the regular games gets. (Why they are trying to make a shorter form of AFL is beyond me...). I also don't think that a plethora of great test matches will lead to a long term revival. Tests will probably never pack stadiums like T20s do. But I don't feel T20 audiences probably aren't as invested in the game as test match audiences. I could only guess at who was in the team the last time we played (couldn't even tell you when our last international T20 match was with any great certainty...), But I could tell you who the squad was for the India tests, roughly what happened in each match and who performed and who didn't. I could debate for hours the merits of who should be in the test side, with T20 it seems to matter less who's picked, it's more down to how much luck they have on a given night. Now this is obviously just my subjective feel, but sadly I can't see those friends I have who love T20 but don't watch tests as being swayed too much by a couple of good quality tests.