Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto eyeing Test series sweep after Aussie capitulation

After dominating Australia in the first Test from start to finish, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto is confident his side can do it all again.

The nine-wicket win in Darwin inside four days, acknowledged by Shanto as the Tigers’ greatest of all time in any format, was earned by dominating with bat, ball and in the field.

It has set up Bangladesh for a shot at a clean sweep of the series in the second Test in Mackay, which starts on Saturday.

The magnitude of the win in Darwin was evidenced by the video call Shanto and his team had with Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman straight after the historic victory, the nation’s first on Australian soil.

“We wanted to play five days of good cricket, and nothing changes going into the next Test match. We need to follow the same process and accept and enjoy the challenge.

“They have a quality bowling attack, so we have to play good cricket. As a bowling unit we have to be disciplined again.”

The win was no fluke. Paceman Hasan Mahmud, named player of the match, finished with 9-111 across the two innings, the best figures by a Bangladesh bowler in an away Test.

Allrounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz spun a web of despair around the Australian batters in the second innings with his 5-66.

Playing just his second Test, opener Tanzid Hasan (101) scored a maiden century in the first innings, when the Bangladesh batters compiled 426 in 138 overs.

Bangladesh are fourth on the World Test Championship table and within striking distance of second-placed South Africa. An appearance in the Test Championship final is not off the table, but Shanto is staying grounded.

“This is our biggest win, but I am not looking at the World Test Championship now because we are not an experienced side as a Test team,” Shanto said.

“As captain I always think about series by series and sometimes match by match. If we play good cricket going forward, yes, we will definitely have a chance.”

The Bangladesh prime minister is happy, and he’s not the only one after a victory that has lifted a nation

“He called us and congratulated us. He is really happy and super-proud,” Shanto said.