The Mount Maunganui Test in January 2022, when Bangladesh beat the then ICC World Test Championship holders New Zealand in their own backyard, remains their biggest achievement in the five-day format till date.

Bangladesh opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy carries a kind of youthful exuberance that rekindles the spirit of the ‘Joy’ in his name, even in the pressure-cooker environment of Test cricket. When he came to the press conference on Thursday after the close of play on Day 3 of the first test against Ireland in Sylhet, he wore that same smile one often sees when he is out in the middle.

Bangladesh opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy carries a kind of youthful exuberance that rekindles the spirit of the ‘Joy’ in his name, even in the pressure-cooker environment of Test cricket. When he came to the press conference on Thursday after the close of play on Day 3 of the first test against Ireland in Sylhet, he wore that same smile one often sees when he is out in the middle.

Two big partnerships shaped Bangladesh's batting performance on the second day of the first Test against Ireland in Sylhet on Wednesday and although the second one eclipsed the former by two runs at stumps, it was the 168-run opening stand between Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Shadman Islam that really set the tone.

Opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy was recalled as Bangladesh announced a 14-member squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Ireland, starting on November 11 in Sylhet.

In Khulna, the day was overshadowed by Barishal’s Fazle Mahmud, who suffered a heatstroke in the 19th over and was stretchered off.

The ongoing National Cricket League -- NCL T20 -- is going against the regular modus operandi of T20 tournaments.

Over a short span in Test cricket, Mahmudul Hasan Joy has been able to find his spark from time to time. With Zimbabwe coming in for a series, Joy and the other young guns in the side approach this series to build momentum in their career. The 24-year-old opener discussed his career, his approach and the Zimbabwe series during an interview last week with The Daily Star’s Abdullah Al Mehdi. The excerpts of the interview are as follows:

“He [Joy] got hurt while fielding. It will take him about three weeks to recover,” said Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief physician Debashis Chowdhury.

Bangladesh Cricket Board High Performance skipper Mahmudul Hasan Joy emerged as a trump card with the ball as his maiden five-wicket haul earned his side a nail-biting five-run win over Pakistan Shaheens in the second four-day match in Darwin. 

Skipper Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Aich Mollah struck fifties before Bangladesh High Performance Unit were bowled out for 258 in their first innings on the opening day of second four-day match against Pakistan Shaheens at the DXC Arena in Darwin on Friday.

Bangladesh bowling coach Andre Adams was not impressed with his side letting opportunities slip through dropped catches on Day 1 of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Chattogram on Saturday. 

Bangladesh team’s assistant coach Nic Pothas yesterday said the Test team’s batting unit is going through a rebuilding stage and everyone needs to remain patient, a statement that contradicts what other important figures of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had said in the days prior.

“We got dismissed playing rash shots,” said a remorseful Joy at the end-of-day press conference yesterday.

Just into his career’s 10th Test, Bangladesh Test opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy has seen the highs and lows not particularly seen in internationals. Today against the Kiwis in the first Test, there was highs and lows too, following a team-high 86 which saw him miss out on a ton but his resilience sees the game in balance after day one.

Part-time off-spinner Glenn Phillips took four wickets as Bangladesh were reduced to 310 for nine at the end of the first day of the first Test at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.

Joy, who is batting on 53, completed his half-century off 93 balls as Bangladesh reached 116-2 after 31 overs.

Courtesy of Mahmudul Hasan Joy's century, Bangladesh A confirmed their ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup semifinal spot by securing a 21-run victory against Afghanistan A in their final group game at the P Sara Oval yesterday.

Joy scored 100 off 114 deliveries, striking 12 fours and two sixes, while left-hander Zakir Hasan added 62 off 72 deliveries with the help of six fours and two sixes. Soumya Sarkar scored 48 off 42 while Sheikh Mahedi smashed a quick-fire 36 off just 19 balls with six fours and a six.

Mahmudul Hasan Joy’s fourth first-class ton starred as Bangladesh A staged a turnaround with the bat in the fourth innings against West Indies A to help the hosts draw the third and final four-day Test at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Friday.