BCB chief selector Habibul Bashar recently told The Daily Star that “Tests will be prioritised.” That commitment will face a stern test as Bangladesh prepare to play five Tests, four of them in the current World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, within 50 days.

Accommodation will not be a concern for Bangladesh at the upcoming Asian Games cricket event in Japan, according to men’s team head coach Mohammad Salahuddin, despite concerns raised over the facilities by India.

For Shanto, that improvement has opened the door to a T20I return, while the Asian Games provide a platform to begin building his role as a stabilising presence ahead of the T20 World Cup.

South Africa legend AB de Villiers believes Bangladesh can put up a strong fight on their upcoming Test tour of South Africa despite the demanding conditions they will encounter.

If Bangladesh's pace attack showed remarkable consistency, their batting showed the opposite.

Australia captain Pat Cummins praised his side for "all looking sharp" in a crushing innings and 51-run thrashing of Bangladesh in Mackay on Sunday as they emphatically bounced back from losing the first Test.

The Tigers' progress in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 table has also remained intact despite the Mackay defeat.

Four extraordinary first days in Australian Tests in less than two years.

The Mackay pitch is likely to offer more pace and bounce, potentially giving Australia’s fast bowlers a much stronger platform. The open nature of the venue could also bring strong winds into play, adding another challenge for Bangladesh’s batters.

Only a thumping win will do for Australia in the second Test against Bangladesh this week as they look to ease the embarrassment of their shock nine-wicket loss in Darwin and even up the two-match series.

On Saturday, the less abrasive Carey will walk onto Great Barrier Reef Arena as the seventh, his skill-set reflecting wicketkeeping fundamentals that Grout would have approved of as well as a run-scoring capacity now expected of modern glovemen.

The last time Bangladesh came close to following up a landmark away victory with a series win in a SENA country was in 2021/22, when they famously beat New Zealand in Mount Maunganui. An innings-and-117-run defeat in Christchurch followed inside three days. For many, it was simply Bangladesh reverting to type after producing something spectacular.

Shoriful Islam may have missed Bangladesh's historic Test victory over Australia in Darwin, but the left-arm pacer made sure he was there to celebrate it with his teammates.

Donald also credited his successor, Shaun Tait, while praising the development of Bangladesh’s pace unit over the past five years.

Bashar spoke to The Daily Star’s Samsul Arefin Khan over the phone from Darwin about the team’s difficult build-up, their overall performance and other issues.

His ability to deliver under pressure is a consistent pattern.

Following Bangladesh’s dominant nine-wicket victory over Australia inside four days in the Darwin Test, Ashraful spoke to The Daily Star’s Samsul Arefin Khan about the team’s performance, how belief was instilled in the players after a difficult build-up, and other aspects of the historic victory.

The numbers make a compelling case. The manner of the victory makes an even stronger one. And perhaps the most telling evidence came from the beaten Australians themselves.

Shanto said the victory had been built on a collective effort rather than one outstanding individual performance.

Smith felt the visitors’ batting effort was the decisive difference.