“Mini McGrath” dreams of Test Championship final
After a nine wicket win over Australia in Darwin, Bangladesh now see a path to bigger success in Tests. Hasan Mahmud believes the team can play the final of the current World Test Championship. He calls it a realistic goal. The pacer says a change has started in Bangladesh Test cricket.
Mr. Mahmud says Bangladesh can now dream of playing the final. Bangladesh sit fourth on the points table, a place they reached after beating Australia by nine wickets in Darwin in August. Mr. Mahmud took 6 wickets for 55 runs in that win. Bangladesh have won six of their 13 Tests in the last two years.
The 26 year old speaks in an interview with AFP. He says, “The momentum is surely coming to our side. The mood is such that Bangladesh can dominate Test cricket now. We could not dominate before, but now is the time.” He adds that the team has the belief to do it.
Bangladesh have six Tests left in this championship cycle. They play home series against West Indies and England, and then tour South Africa. Mr. Mahmud asks, “If we win four matches at home, why will we not play the World Test Championship final?” He says this is now the dream of Bangladesh.
Hasan Mahmud had a successful spell this year with the county side Kent. People know him as “Mini McGrath”. He also talks about how the thinking on Bangladesh pace bowling has changed. He says the new generation of fast bowlers has changed how world cricket sees Bangladeshi pacers. He says, “They now understand that Bangladesh also has good fast bowlers of world class.”
Mahmud explains his attacking bowling in the Australia series. He says he did not give batters easy runs. He used short balls and bowled to his own plan. Bangladesh still did not win the series of two Tests. Australia won the second Test in Mackay by an innings and 51 runs.
Mahmud still believes the graph of Bangladesh will keep rising. He says Bangladesh can reach a higher level in Test cricket. For that, the pacers must stay fit. The batters must also hold their form.
