The Bangladesh team received a grand welcome at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka after returning from their memorable tour of Australia on Friday night.
The Tigers came home after drawing the two Test series 1-1, with their historic victory in Darwin making the tour one to remember.
Bangladesh fast bowling coach Talha Jubair now hopes Australia will invite the Tigers again as early as next year. He also hopes Bangladesh will get the chance to play at some of the country’s bigger venues next time.
“I think Australia will invite us again next year. They won’t invite us to Darwin or Mackay. Hopefully, we’ll get to play at some of the better venues,” Talha told reporters at the airport.
Bangladesh had waited 23 years for another Test tour of Australia. They made the most of that opportunity by stunning the hosts by nine wickets in the first Test in Darwin.
It was Bangladesh’s first Test victory on Australian soil.
Australia responded in Mackay and won the second Test by an innings and 51 runs. The result levelled the series at 1-1, but Bangladesh still returned home with one of their biggest achievements in Test cricket.
Talha said the historic win also changed the way people responded to the Bangladesh team during the tour.
“After winning the Test, we received support wherever we went. It was not only Bangladeshis. People from other countries who follow cricket also kept supporting us,” he said.
Bangladesh’s pace attack played a major role in the success in Darwin.
Hasan Mahmud took nine wickets in the match. He claimed six wickets in the first innings as Bangladesh bowled Australia out for 198.
Talha said his experience as a coach meant the job itself was not new to him. However, preparing plans against the Australian batters presented a different challenge.
“I have been working and coaching for a long time, so it was not entirely new for me. The only new part was the group of batters I was planning against,” Talha said.
Bangladesh analyst Shaon also played an important role in preparing those plans.
“Our analyst Shaon helped us a lot in identifying the weaknesses of the Australian batters. We bowled a lot in the areas where they were vulnerable,” Talha said.
The significance of beating Australia in their own conditions was difficult for Talha to put into words.
“Some experiences and emotions cannot be expressed in words. Going to Australia and beating Australia was one of those moments. Even the major media outlets around the world talked about it and highlighted what we achieved,” he said.
Talha believes the victory has also sent a strong message about what Bangladesh can achieve away from home.
“Going to Australia and beating Australia is a huge achievement. It sends a message to the world that we can beat anyone,” he said.
“This experience will help us on our future tours.”
Bangladesh returned home with the series shared, but the Darwin victory ensured the tour had a special place in the country’s cricket history.
After waiting more than two decades to return to Australia, Bangladesh will now hope their next opportunity comes much sooner.
