Opportunity over regret in long-awaited Australia tour

Bangladesh will tour Australia for a two-Test series in August for the first time in 23 years, ending one of the longest gaps in the Tigers’ red-ball history.

The last time Bangladesh played a Test series Down Under was in 2003. The enormity of that gap can be gauged from the fact that Mushfiqur Rahim -- one of only three cricketers since the 2000s to enjoy a 20-year-plus Test career alongside England’s James Anderson and Zimbabwe’s Brendan Taylor -- has never played a Test in Australia.

While the upcoming series has been finalised, the matches are slated for Marrara Stadium in Darwin and Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay -- venues not traditionally considered Australia’s iconic Test centres.

Mackay is set to debut as a Test venue in the series while Darwin, which had hosted its first Test during Bangladesh’s previous Test tour, is set to host a five-day game for the first time since 2004.

Test careers are often measured by appearances at the game’s most storied venues and in this regard, most Bangladeshi cricketers may feel a sense of deprivation.

Mushfiqur made his Test debut at Lord’s and in 2010, Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal also featured alongside him at the Home of Cricket. Yet, Australia’s grand amphitheatres -- the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) and the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) -- have remained beyond reach.

However, former Test captain Mominul Haque insists the opportunity to face Australia matters more than the venue.

“It felt really good when I heard it as I have never played Tests in Australia and even Mushfiqur bhai hasn’t. It’s great from many aspects because in the last few Test cycles, we haven’t played any big teams except India and South Africa,” Mominul told The Daily Star.

“Not exactly thinking about SCG or MCG. We haven’t played Australia in a while so it’s a big thing that we are playing there. We are excited to play a big side. So, I don’t have much regret,” he stated.

Former skipper Khaled Mahmud Sujon, who led Bangladesh in the 2003 series against an Australian side boasting the likes of Steve Waugh, Glenn McGrath and Ricky Ponting, termed the long hiatus unfortunate.

“It was our misfortune that Australia did not invite us to play for so many years, nor was it included in the FTP [Future Tours Programme]. But yes, I am happy that Bangladesh is playing against Australia in Australia,” he told The Daily Star.

“Grounds like Melbourne and Sydney are very prestigious. Not being able to play in such venues may cause some regret. I don't think they should be upset; they have achieved a lot in their long careers,” he opined.

Mahmud also believed the current Bangladesh side is far more mature and feels the warmer conditions in Darwin could work in their favour.

“We managed in New Zealand conditions; Mount Maunganui was similar in that it wasn't that cold -- it was warm. I think that will also help us,” he said.