A bigger bounce than usual? Ebadot Hossain’s length delivery blasted off, hitting Afghan opener Abdul Malik high on the bat and leaving him nowhere to go, and Zakir Hasan snatched it up at third slip.
Nijatullah Masood’s other ball of the morning session, the one that gave Mushfiqur Rahim such much problems, was just as exhilarating as it was unexpected, as additional bounce and seaming conditions are oxymorons on Mirpur wickets. The dramatic shift from day one to day two of play was like night and day.
Test cricket’s allure stems from the sport’s central inspiration—the titanic struggle between bat and ball. Test cricket may have a monotonous feel if it doesn’t have it. Test matches on Mirpur wickets have never been something to write home about. There is no bag to transport pacers. Neither the weather nor the grass on the ground encourage swing, so bowlers can’t expect their deliveries to move quickly.
This spin has always been the dominant force in Mirpur. Spinners go about their daily work, and although some have particular techniques in their sleeves that allow them to get more traction off the pitch, the aesthetic appeal is generally lacking. With little speed to spark a burst of wickets and excitement, Tests in Mirpur become a tedious affair.
The first day’s play indicated that it was another of the typical Mirpur tracks, with batsmen dominating over bowlers.
But Thursday’s second day was very different.
The inexperience of the Afghan pacers in the longest format was evident in their lack of discipline on Wednesday, when the new ball did not move around regularly. On Thursday, everything shifted, and Afghanistan had to wait for one over to take the new ball.
Bangladesh’s innings was completed in six overs, with Mushfiqur facing perhaps the most unplayable delivery of the match. The bounce was just part of it. All morning, the ball was in constant motion. Nijatullah took three more wickets on his debut to finish with a five-for, while Yamin Admadzai took two more to quickly end Bangladesh’s first innings.
After missing some sleep—perhaps because they hoped Mushfiqur or Miraz would make the tail wag for a little while longer—Ebadot and company seemed to be sailing on smooth waters.
Swing was aided by the wind, and the grass seemed to have accepted the fact that it was time for seam movement. The second day was just as challenging for Afghanistan’s hitters as it had been for Bangladesh’s.
Within a single session, Shoriful Islam bowled with five different slips. In the first 10.4 overs of Afghanistan’s innings in the morning session, Ebadot and Shoriful got the ball to speak exceptionally efficiently, sending the batsmen into all kinds of problems.
Before noon, the team lost three more wickets. Afghanistan caved under the strain and surrendered another five in the second session. Afghanistan were knocked out for 0 runs in 39 overs thanks to the efforts of bowlers like Mehedi Hasan Miraz (2) and Taijul (2). What people will remember most, however, is the fast, bouncy day—possibly a first for a Test at Mirpur.
When asked at the conclusion of the press conference whether the speed unit will actively pursue such wickets at their home stadium, Ebadot expressed optimism. “Success breeds confidence, and winning matches gives you that. Since we are progressing well, we have reason to be optimistic.