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Bangladesh likely cannot wait for this Test to get started. As they look ahead to a brave new red-ball world, one where they play an aggressive, attractive brand of Test cricket, Pakistan must feel like the perfect foil to demonstrate their qualities against. A resounding win in the first Test has given them all the momentum, and a chance to continue to press Pakistan’s backs against the wall.
The most obvious thing to jump out from the Test earlier this week was Bangladesh’s comfort with adversity. Where they might have previously crumbled, they consolidated. Where they may have retreated into the safety of a draw, they went out and attacked. Where they might have treated a historically superior team with respect, they had the self-belief to recognise them for the inferior opposition they were.
While the batting steeliness of their middle order was instrumental to success, one of Bangladesh’s greatest assets over Pakistan is the ease with which they can balance their side and hedge against any conditions. The surface in Mirpur was a greentop, but one that was slow underneath. It allowed for an express seamer like Nahid Rana with enforcers in Taskin Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain, but that did not restrict Bangladesh to just the one spinner. Alongside left arm orthodox spinner Taijul Islam, they have a genuine offspinning-allrounder in Mehidy Hasan Miraz, allowing them to cover all bases with surprising completeness.
These were areas Pakistan needed to compromise on, with only one of Noman or Sajid able to be picked, and no one in their ranks to counter Rana’s high pace. But then again, Pakistan find themselves making compromises all over the place lately, with a batting order that is either fragile or inexperienced. Babar Azam’s return to the side may give them a psychological boost, but it has to be backed up by runs he, or most of his more experienced teammates, haven’t scored up the order regularly enough, and especially not away from home. That a lot of the burden of expectations may end up being shouldered by two top-order batters who only made their debuts last week goes on to illustrate the myriad vulnerabilities of the visitors.
Pakistan’s bowling attack, too, sparks little fear among opposition. One of the reasons they turned to spin tracks at home was their loss of faith in the seamers to take 20 wickets. The quicks were partly responsible for letting the game get away from their grip on the first day of the Test, a loss of control Pakistan were never quite able to wrestle back. For a side low on confidence, the path to get back on track is anything but clear, but with five away Tests this summer to follow, a positive result here is a shot in the arm they could desperately do with.