Tanzid Hasan Tamim struck his maiden Test century against Australia on Australian soil, becoming the first Bangladeshi batter ever to achieve the feat. After the day’s play, he reflected simply, “The century is obviously a special one.”
Bangladesh’s first Test series in Australia in 23 years was already a remarkable opportunity for the Tigers, and Tanzid made it unforgettable with a wonderfully controlled batting display. He scored 101 runs off 197 balls at Marrara Stadium in Darwin on Friday, reaching the milestone in just 188 deliveries.
What made the innings even more special was his temperament: composed and steadfast, in stark contrast to the aggressive stroke play that first brought him into the international game. Remarkably, the century came in only his second Test appearance, having made his format debut against Pakistan in May 2026.
Tanzid’s journey to this moment has had its share of ups and downs. Early in his career, he was handed the daunting task of opening Bangladesh’s innings at the 2023 Asia Cup — a challenge he did not meet, managing just 13 runs across two innings.
It was enough to raise questions about his readiness for the big stage, especially given the pressure of stepping into the shoes of legendary opener Tamim Iqbal.
The struggles continued into the 2023 World Cup, where he managed only 145 runs in nine innings at an average of 16.11. Doubts around his place in the side grew louder, and the U-19 World Cup winner risked being written off as a failed prospect.
But fortunes turned in an ODI against Sri Lanka in Chattogram in 2024, where he played a scintillating knock of 84 off 81 balls. Since then, Tanzid has become one of Bangladesh’s most consistent run-scorers across ODIs and T20Is.
Given his exploits with the bat in the shorter formats, there was a risk of Tanzid being permanently tagged a ‘white-ball specialist.’ In Darwin, though, he announced himself as a complete batter capable of adapting to any format — and, fittingly, he credited his white-ball mindset for the feat.
“Actually, it’s nothing too complicated. When I was brought into the Test team, everyone made my role very clear and explained how they wanted me to play. I think I’ve simply come here with the same mindset that I have when I bat in ODIs, and I’ve tried to play with that same mindset here,” Tanzid said.
Despite being widely viewed as a white-ball player, Tanzid showed real courage and Test-match temperament — an effort that drew praise even from Australian greats.
Aussie legend Mark Waugh was unequivocal in his admiration: “Great moment. Whatever happens in his career, he will never forget the century he scored in Darwin. It was a great innings against a world-class bowling attack.”
In only his third Test innings, Tanzid had to face down Australia’s fearsome pace attack of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood on their own turf.
Yet Tanzid stayed and played each ball on its merits, favouring soft hands and working the ball with punches and pushes, mostly through the offside.
Only 38 of his runs came from boundaries; for the rest of his innings, he kept the scoreboard ticking by running hard between the wickets. He was clear-eyed about his approach and executed it with discipline.
“We focused on playing fewer shots and rotating the strike. Our aim was to stay at the wicket, avoid poor shot selection and build a partnership,” Tanzid added.
Tanzid allowed himself just one six across the entire innings. He danced down the pitch and lofted the ball over extra-cover, a calculated move designed to disrupt the bowling channel of Beau Webster. “I was trying to make it different because he always bowls in a line and length, so I was trying to just play differently.”
His 102-run partnership with Mominul Haque off 189 balls, followed by a 93-run stand with captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, stood as clear testaments to his composure and reliability — and in doing so, he also moved past Hannan Sarkar’s innings of 76, the previous highest Test score by a Bangladeshi batter in Australia, set in 2003.
His century was also just the second by a Bangladesh batter against Australia in Tests, after Shahriar Nafees’s 138 at Fatullah in 2006. His 101 helped power Bangladesh to a 153-run lead over Australia at the end of day two, with the tourists closing on 351 for 6.
