Internet Desk: Bangladesh will be looking to overcome its recent poor run of form, aiming to make its 100th Test an occasion to celebrate against Sri Lanka in Colombo.
Bangladesh has showed occasional promise since attaining full member status in 2000, but has mostly flattered to deceive. It goes into Wednesday’s (March 15) Test at the P Sara Oval trailing the two-match series 0-1 after a crushing 259-run loss at Galle — its 76th defeat and the fourth in a row in 99 Tests.
No other Test-playing country has lost so many times in its first 100 Test matches and the dubious honour highlights Bangladesh’s struggle in the five-day format over the past 17 years. So far it has won only eight Tests, one more than New Zealand, who had seven wins in its first 100 Tests, though New Zealand managed to eke out 47 draws against Bangladesh’s 15.
Five of Bangladesh’s eight wins have come at home including four against Zimbabwe. And it won just three of its 46 games abroad — two against West Indies and one against Zimbabwe.
Bangladesh lost 21 consecutive Test matches between 2001 and 2004, the worst ever losing run by a team. It has improved in recent matches, drawing its home series against England before dragging its last four Tests into the fifth day.
“We are doing the right thing, that’s why we have been competitive in all these games,” said Chandika Hathurusinghe, the Bangladesh coach. “Why have you raised your expectations? Because we are doing well, am I right? That’s what we all expect, and we are asking too much of a team that is still finding their feet in Test cricket. It is a fact.”
With an eye on an improved show in Colombo, Bangladesh has already taken a tough call by dropping Mahmudullah Riyad, one of the seniors in the side. Mahmudullah, who has played 33 Tests since his debut against West Indies in 2007, scored 8 and 0 in the two innings at Galle where Rangana Herath bowled Sri Lanka to a 259-run win.
Imrul Kayes, who missed the last three Tests – against New Zealand, India and Sri Lanka – because of a hamstring injury, is set to replace Mahmudullah.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka ticked most boxes during the first Test, when it put up 494 and 276 for 6 declared in the two innings. Though it was rarely pushed in Galle, fielding is an area of concern the home side will have to work on. Sri Lanka dropped three catches in the first innings, allowing Bangladesh to score 312 runs on the back of half-centuries from Soumya Sarkar, Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim, the captain.
There is a threat of rain in Colombo, but if the weather holds, the second match could provide an interesting contest between a Sri Lankan side riding on momentum and home advantage against a Bangladesh team that is very keen to end its losing streak in a landmark Test.