|| CF Correspondent ||

Bangladesh continued creating an upward spiral amid a trophy in any format of cricket, an Achilles heel to their ambition of making their progress even more noticeable. But the glut of successes indeed showed a trophy, which eluded them thrice in 2018, is no longer a few and far between. While the track records in ODI cricket were amazing despite a trophy to show, the same kind of vigor was nowhere near the close in Test or T20. But again the progress in these two versions, in which Bangladesh often found them in vulnerable position, was in plain sight.

What would be pleased them that they recorded the highest number of victories in its cricketing history across three formats in 2018. The highest number of victories could be attributed to the fact that Bangladesh played the highest number of matches across the formats. But those 21 wins in 44 matches came against high-class oppositions and in some tough conditions.

One thing, however, doesn’t change: they remain a force in ODI cricket but their Test and T20 success did not see the elevation that was expected.

They won 13 matches out of 20 in ODI cricket and won three matches, playing eight Tests. In T20, the number is really disappointing, as they won just five matches out of 16.

In the organizational front, Bangladesh also have had some success as the formation of the long-cherished regional cricket association is in the fore. The domestic league ran well and provided some exciting talents to the pipeline.

 Mixed year in Test cricket

The injury of the likes of Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan forced Bangladesh to reshuffle their combination in almost all the eight Tests they played in 2018. Starting the year with a high-scoring draw with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh lost the momentum by conceding a 215-run defeat to lose the series 1-0. Their wrong strategy was responsible for their loss, as they offered Sri Lanka an extremely turning pitch, similar to what they had prepared for England and Australia and came out as winners. But against Sri Lanka, a team that relied mostly on spinners, the strategy backfired.

A phase of poor runs in Test cricket then began and continued until the second Test against Zimbabwe at home. In between, they were whitewashed by the West Indies in the Caribbeans, as they hit a new low. Bangladesh were skittled out for 43 in the first innings of the first Test in Antigua, recording the lowest Test score in last 44 years.

They continued the trend by losing their first Test at home against Zimbabwe since 2005. They regrouped well to win the second match and drew the series; but, still, their Test result against a weak Zimbabwe, sparked a huge criticism in the country.

Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal returned to the fold after recovering from injury and Bangladesh whitewashed West Indies to take the revenge after the series against Zimbabwe. They gave a fitting reply to the West Indies, who gave them an extremely seamer’s track when Bangladesh toured in Caribbean Island.

Bangladesh ended the year in Test cricket in a pleasant way, having achieved their first ever innings margin victory, with an innings and 184 runs win against West Indies.

ODI success continues, trophy still eludes

Bangladesh started their ODI mission in 2018 in a rampaging mood, defeating both Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in a tri-nation tournament. Just when it looked like a trophy was on the card, Sri Lanka suddenly found their tempo back to thrash Bangladesh by 79 runs in the final match.

It was shocking indeed but the loss of Shakib Al Hasan to an injury before the final was a killer blow for Bangladesh. They again came close to winning a trophy in the Asia Cup and, while opener Liton Das played the innings of his life, Bangladesh was destined to amass a big total. Things didn’t go their way as an Indian side, formed without some of their biggest stars, hit back in style to restrict Bangladesh to a chaseable 222. The bowlers denied making it a one-way traffic and eventually created a situation for victory. However, India kept their nerves and an injured Kedar Jhadav sailed the side home in the last ball to deny Bangladesh yet another trophy, clinching it by three runs.

Bangladesh could, however, be satisfied with the fact that they won an ODI series by 2-1 on West Indian soil, which was their first series victory in an overseas condition after 2009. They have also won a bilateral series against Zimbabwe and West Indies at home.

T20 disappointment, T20 renaissance

A 3-0 whitewash at the hand of Afghanistan was an Achilles-hills in the T20 format, which was sandwiched by two memorable tourneys—moving into the final of Nidahas Trophy at the expense of hosts Sri Lanka and a 2-1 overseas win over a mighty West Indies. Bangladesh recorded their highest chase in this format also by overhauling a target of 215, set by Sri Lanka. Mushfiqur Rahim smashed a match-winning 35 ball-72 not out, considered one of the finest T20 innings. But again the last-ball defeat to effectively a second string India side in the final of Nidahas Trophy in which Dinesh Karthik ensured India’s victory, hitting a six in the last ball, remains one of the most shocking incident for Bangladesh in 2018. Statistically, though they were poor in this format, Bangladesh looked to have decoded the winning method at least.

 A year to savour for Mehidy

Apart from Bangladesh’s senior players such as hakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad, no one could quite simultaneously excel in all formats of cricket. However, Mehidy Hasan Miraj, in 2018, broke the trend and performed neck-to-neck with those big buns to show a promise of being the next big thing of Bangladesh. He made crucial runs lower down the order and even at the top order. At the same time, he became an impact bowler in ODI cricket also, stripping off his Test-only bowler tag. The off-spinner recorded the best bowling figure of Bangladesh in a Test match by claiming 12 wickets for 117 runs in the second Test against West Indies.

His consistency in Test cricket is proved by his 41 wickets in eight Tests that put him in the second position on the wicket-takers' list for Bangladeshin 2018 behind Taijul’s 43. While he is yet to set the world alight in T20s, there were enough creditable performances in the format that suggest it won’t take him long to learn the trade of the shortest format.

New kid on the block

In 2018, Bangladesh gave some players an international debut but no one could attract attention like off-spinner Nayeem Hasan and opener Shadman Islam. At the age of 17 years and 353 days, Nayeem became the youngest player to claim five-for on Test debut, a unique record itself.

Shadman has no such unique record, but he demonstrated patience and grit on his Test debut to score 76 runs. He showed the patience that Bangladesh needed from an opener in Test cricket.

A year of individual brilliance

A good number of Bangladeshi players finished 2018 by remaining within the top 10 in both the batting and bowling charts in all formats. This was the first time that so many players from Bangladesh simultaneously made their presence felt globally.