The biggest positives from the series
It’s not just been the results, but the manner in which the team won, the way each team was selected and the clarity of thought from the selectors and management need to be applauded.
Yes, the opposition is Zimbabwe. But a win is also a win. You cannot replicate winning mentality and winning culture with coaching. It has to be achieved only on the field, and that is exactly what Bangladesh have done.
For the first time in their history, they have won all the matches against an opposition in a multi-format bi-lateral series. It might have taken a lot longer than expected, but it has finally happened.
How Bangladesh do from here on in against tougher opposition and in different conditions remains to be seen. But let us try to focus on the positives and what Bangladesh did differently, which they had not done before.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Top-order consistency
What was notable during the entire series was the way in which the top order delivered. In all of the games - starting from the Test to the three one-day internationals (ODIs) to the two twenty20 internationals (T20Is) - Bangladesh got off to good starts.
They did not lose more than a wicket before the 50-run mark as their openers Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das found form. The way they handled the Zimbabwe bowling and played sensible cricket really knocked the stuffing out of their opposition. In short, it was a treat to watch, even for the neutrals.
There is also competition for places as Najmul Hossain Shanto has made his way in at no 3 in Tests while Soumya Sarkar has shown that he is an asset in the same spot in white-ball cricket.
Mushfiqur Rahim has started to show some of his best form after giving up the wicket-keeping duties and all of a sudden, the batting order looks very solid and a promising unit.
Specialised bowlers for each format
Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo had spoken about wanting three different squads for three different formats and that is slowly coming into fruition. Yes, it can be argued that the talent pool might not be rich enough to do that like an India or an England does, but it has to start somewhere.
We were seeing signs of the players being given directives and letting them specialise on their best format. And that has been most evident in the bowling as the Test bowling unit starts to take shape.
Ebadot Hossain and Abu Jayed Rahi are the two fast-bowlers that have shown the most consistency with the red ball over the last few seasons and they have been duly rewarded with red-ball contracts. On the other hand, the likes of Mustafizur Rahman and Mohammad Saifuddin have been tasked with the white-ball duties and have been doing a decent job in ODIs.
Al-Amin Hossain has also been good in parts, especially in the T20Is and the bowling attack is starting to take shape.
The spinners are also doing their job, as they so often have done. Nayeem Hasan was exceptional in the Test while Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul were consistent with the white-ball. Aminul Islam is a promising leg-spinner and should be the x-factor for Bangladesh in the T20I World Cup.
It's not just been the results, but the manner in which the team won, the way each team was selected and the clarity of thought from the selectors and management need to be applauded. With the era of Mashrafe Bin Mortaza as captain over, Shakib Al Hasan banned by ICC from cricket, and Mahmudullah's Test career hanging by a thread, the team needed to find new faces and new heroes.
With the help of proper selection and clarity of thought from the management, all three teams for Bangladesh are starting to take shape as tougher tests await later this year.
