Leading up to the Test series against Australia, Mehidy Hasan Miraz lost his ODI captaincy to Litton Kumar Das. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) officials determined that Mehidy was under excessive pressure due to his leadership duties and wanted him to focus entirely on his individual performance. While this could have been a significant psychological blow for the all-rounder, who had been tasked with leading the side until the next World Cup, his recent form suggests he has remained unfazed. His performance in the lone warm-up match, where he scored a century, and his display in this Test match indicate a player in complete control of his game.
When asked if he arrived in Australia with a point to prove following his removal as captain, Mehidy remained composed. “I think it can happen (losing ODI captaincy) and my mind set up is clear at this moment,” he stated. He added, “I know how to bowl the right area and how to get batting.” His clarity of thought was evident throughout the match, particularly when the team faced a precarious situation on Day 2.
The tourists appeared to be on the verge of surrendering when Australia claimed three quick wickets, including the prized scalps of centurion Tanzid Hasan, Litton Kumar Das, and Mushfiqur Rahim. Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto had earlier laid a solid foundation with a brilliant 84, but the momentum shifted rapidly once the hosts took the second new ball. Mehidy, however, initiated a crucial rescue act alongside Hasan Mahmud on the second day and maintained that composure into the third morning.
Bangladesh resumed the third day at 351-6, but lost Hasan early. Taijul Islam provided a brief cameo, scoring 17 off 23 balls before edging Josh Hazlewood to Cameron Green at gully. Despite the pressure, Mehidy continued to frustrate the Australian bowling attack, eventually bringing up his 10th Test half-century off 117 balls. His innings of 65 runs from 154 balls was a masterclass in patience; he batted for over 90 minutes on the second day and another 124 minutes on the third, effectively tiring out the opposition.
Mehidy’s ability to manage the tail was instrumental to Bangladesh’s total. He stitched together two vital 46-run partnerships with Hasan and Taskin Ahmed, guiding the lower-order batters with meticulous care. He contributed 32 runs during his stand with Hasan and 30 during his ninth-wicket partnership with Taskin. By sharing the responsibility and instilling confidence in his partners, he ensured the team remained in the driving seat.
“Everyone is playing very good cricket and everyone is taking responsibility for each other. That feels very good,” Mehidy remarked. “They (lower-order batters) batted very well and actually it was a bit tough for me to bat. Because when I came out, Mushfiqur bhai was out. So, the runs I scored, I needed to score with the bowlers and I think it was a bit challenging for me to score runs at that moment.”
His impact extended to the ball as well. Later in the day, Mehidy dismissed Steven Smith, who had looked set for another substantial contribution following his 71 in the first innings. Smith chipped a delivery back toward the bowler, and Mehidy completed a sharp return catch to dismiss him for 44. This breakthrough was a result of tactical discipline and varying his pace to disrupt the batter’s rhythm.
Explaining his approach to bowling against a world-class player like Smith, Mehidy noted, “We just concentrated on bowling in the right areas and I knew I cannot be giving him too many scoring options. I know he is a very good player and he is doing very well but if we are not giving many runs we can take his wicket and we just think like that.”
He concluded by emphasizing the simplicity of his strategy: “I just keep my plan simple. I’m not giving as many scoring options and I just try to bowl the good area all the time and keep changing the line and length. So we are trying to prevent as many runs as possible.” This disciplined approach has placed Bangladesh in a strong position to secure a historic Test victory on Australian soil.
Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto’s brilliant 84 had laid the platform, along with Tanzid, for a formidable total, but it all looked to be vanishing quickly after the hosts started proceedings with the second new ball.
Mehidy, who scored 65 runs from 154 balls, dug deep against the Australian attack as on the second day, batting for more than one and half hours while facing 73 balls.
On the third day, while on the third he batted for exactly 124 minutes during which he faced 83 balls to tire out the opposition.
Rather, he gave his partners the confidence and importance to believe that they could handle the Australian attack, and they repaid his faith, if not anything else.
Following Smith’s departure, murmurs began of Bangladesh earning a huge win over the Aussies, even an innings-win if possible, though Mehidy insisted that they are not looking too far ahead.
“Look, the wicket is still in good condition.
And we are not really thinking like that (defeating them by an innings margin).
Because we see that the wicket is not that easy, the wickets that we have taken have been taken with great difficulty.
“Look, we want the fewer runs, the better for us.
So, there are still two days left in the game.
And the wicket is getting better as the day goes on.
