Taskin Ahmed honoured to play Tests in Australia, 14 years on

Bangladesh fast bowler Taskin Ahmed has described the opportunity to play a Test series in Australia as a proud and honoured moment for every member of the touring squad. Speaking ahead of the first Test in Darwin set to commence on August 13, Taskin reflected on a personal milestone that is 14 years in the making, set against the backdrop of Bangladesh’s first Test visit to Australia since 2003.

Taskin was eight years old when Bangladesh toured Australia in 2003, watching that series from home. He subsequently visited the country for the Under-19 World Cup in 2012, then returned for the 50-over World Cup three years later and again for the shortest format’s global event in 2022. Despite those trips, he had never faced Australia in an international match on Australian soil before this series. His debut against Australia came in a T20I played in Mirpur, and 14 years ago, during one of those earlier Australian visits, he dismissed Travis Head.

“We are really honoured to be here to be playing the Test series against Australia. No doubt Australia is one of the biggest teams in the world and playing in Australia against Australia in Test cricket, it’s a really proud moment for every one of our players. So, definitely that won’t be an easy series for us, but still, we are hoping to do really well in the upcoming Australia series,” Taskin told Cricinfo.

Why does Australia hold a special place for Taskin?

Taskin has spoken openly about his admiration for Australian cricket and its pace attack. Growing up, he followed the country’s fast bowlers closely and has continued to do so throughout his career, even as he developed into one of Bangladesh’s leading seamers. He also singled out the current Australian pace group as a source of inspiration.

“From my childhood, I’ve been watching Australia team players, like great fast bowlers, legendary players. Really now I have the opportunity to play against them. So I’m really excited. Australia is my favourite place to bowl. I have been watching all of them, Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins, even Boland also doing well. If I have a chance to chat with them, definitely I will do,” Taskin said.

How did Bangladesh’s tour match preparation go ahead of the Darwin Test?

Bangladesh’s warm-up for the series raised immediate questions about their readiness for Australian conditions. In a tour match against a Cricket Australia XI in Darwin on Saturday, the visitors were bowled out for 54 and suffered an innings defeat. Campbell Thompson, a 22-year-old South Australia seamer who had taken only three first-class wickets before the match, claimed 8 for 25 to dismantle the Bangladesh batting lineup. Earlier in the same match, fringe first-class batter Teague Wyllie scored 130 against an attack led by Taskin.

“That wasn’t a great feeling after losing against Cricket Australia, that practice game. But in cricket that happens. We are also still trying to adjust to the conditions and pitches quickly. That was a good preparation, but we lost, though, but still we are hoping to do well in the main match,” he said.

The result underlined the challenge Bangladesh face away from home. Two months ago, they recorded a 2-1 ODI series victory over Australia in Mirpur, rattling the visitors with pace and bounce on sporting pitches. However, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Travis Head were all absent from that series. Nahid Rana, Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam supported Taskin in Mirpur, but none of that trio is available for Darwin, with Shoriful the only one with a chance of featuring in Mackay.

“That was a really great series for us, especially because normally, traditionally in Mirpur, it used to be a turning and slow wicket, but the last series was pretty sporting conditions. We all played a good series and we won against Australia. That’s giving us really good confidence to play against them. But still, home and away, there is a big difference,” Taskin said.

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