Bangladesh all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz has challenged his team to build on their historic Test victory in Darwin, warning that the upcoming match in Mackay will present an even tougher test against a motivated Australian side. The landmark win marked Bangladesh’s first-ever Test victory on Australian soil, a result that has shifted the narrative surrounding the team’s capabilities in foreign conditions.
Mehidy was instrumental in the triumph, contributing a vital half-century with the tail in the first innings before claiming a five-wicket haul in Australia’s second innings. His bowling performance was pivotal in restricting Australia to 284, setting up a modest target of 57 runs which Bangladesh successfully chased down on the fourth afternoon. Reflecting on his contribution, Mehidy described the performance as the most significant of his 12 career five-wicket hauls, noting that succeeding as a spinner in these conditions felt like a genuine blessing.
The all-rounder emphasized that the team’s success was rooted in a collective shift in mentality. He admitted that while the squad maintained belief, the result was never a certainty. He expressed a desire to carry the current momentum into the next fixture, though he acknowledged the challenge of winning consecutive Test matches. For now, the team remains focused on their current approach rather than looking too far ahead at the series outcome.
A key factor in the turnaround was the support provided by the team management, particularly after a demoralizing loss to a Cricket Australia XI in the pre-Test warm-up match. Mehidy highlighted the efforts of team manager Nafis Iqbal, who provided personal encouragement and even assisted him in the nets, and spin bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed. According to Mehidy, Ahmed played a crucial role in restoring the players’ confidence by urging them to maintain faith after the heavy defeat in the practice game.
Mehidy also shared his pride in receiving recognition from Australian cricket legends, specifically Adam Gilchrist. Following the match, the former Australian wicketkeeper interviewed Mehidy and offered praise for the team’s performance. Mehidy recounted that Gilchrist expressed genuine surprise at the quality of cricket displayed by Bangladesh, admitting that the hosts had not anticipated such a strong challenge. For the Bangladeshi all-rounder, hearing such high praise from a legendary figure served as a significant personal highlight.
The team’s ability to bounce back from being bowled out for 54 in their practice match to securing a Test win has been a point of pride for the squad. Mehidy credited the entire team for their resilience, noting that the victory was a result of small, consistent improvements and a refusal to let the initial setback define their tour. As they prepare for the next encounter, the focus remains on maintaining the same level of intensity that secured them this historic result in Darwin.
Mehidy said he enjoyed both his roles in the game but termed his bowling performance in Darwin the best of his 12 five-fers in the format so far.
After we lost the first match, he went to every single player and told us, ‘Have faith.
Starting from those small things, we began to believe, and you can all see the results today,” he said.
“Look, winning a match like this always feels amazing.
We believed, but at the end of the day, the result isn’t in our hands, we can only try.
People say a lot of things at times, but at the end of the day, when everyone performs well, it feels great.
“Of course we are thinking that way [clinching the series] and we want to stay focused on the approach we’ve taken.
Right now, we just want to carry this momentum forward, and we’ll plan for the next match later.”
“I enjoyed both [batting and bowling].
When I went in to bat, my only thought then was how to work with the bowlers to build a massive lead.
