Bangladesh turn adult in Tests this year: How countries have done in longest format in first 18 years

After Bangladesh conceded 700-plus runs against Sri Lanka in the first Test of the ongoing series in Chittagong recently, it was being parroted again that the Asian side is not fit for playing the longest format of the game. The Tigers are into their 18th year since they started playing Tests in 2000 and it is true that their records so far are not exactly exciting. Of the 105 Tests they have played so far, Bangladesh have won just 10, lost 79 and drawn the remaining 16. The success percentage is a miserable 9.52.

However, if we see Bangladesh’s Test performance since the 2014-15 series against Zimbabwe which they won 3-0, it’s not as worse as their overall show. In the 19 Tests they have played including that home series versus the Africans, Bangladesh have won six and lost nine while four have been drawn (a much better success percentage of 31.57). And moreover, three of these six victories have come against teams like England, Sri Lanka and Australia and Bangladesh have drawn five of their last eight Test series, one of which was in Sri Lanka.

Bangladesh have improved as a Test side

These statistics indicate that Bangladesh is a much-improved side. They have played 54 series’ so far (including the current two-game affair against Sri Lanka) and out of them, they have won just three and drawn seven and lost 43! They began to draw Test series’ only as late as 2013 and have drawn as many as seven in the last four years. The country’s biggest achievement till date is undoubtedly their 2-0 win against the West Indies in the Caribbeans in 2009. The other two series victories have come against Zimbabwe. With Afghanistan and Ireland set to play Tests, Bangladesh’s improvement certainly would make their fans happy.

Bangladesh’s first 18 years’ record better than many big teams

But if we compare Bangladesh’s Test records in their first 18 years (an age with which one attains adulthood), they don’t look extraordinarily poor. India had won just a solitary Test in their first 18 years in Test cricket (1932-1950) out of the 25 matches they played (success percentage of just four) while New Zealand could not win even a single Test in their first 18 years (1929-1946/47), losing five and drawing two of the seven matches they had played during that time. But there have also been teams that did well in their first 18 years in Test cricket.

Here is a list of performance of all Test sides in their first 18 years:

England (success 56.52%):

The inventors of the game have the best record in their first 18 years of Test cricket. Having played 46 games between 1876-94, the English had won 26, while losing 14 and drawing six. England had played 19 series in this period, winning 13, losing five and drawing one. Their biggest series victory in the first 18 years was a 3-0 win against Australia at home in 1886 while the worst result had come against Australia (0-2) in an away series in 1881-82.

Australia (success 32.55%):

The modern champions were the second-best team in their first 18 years of Test cricket. They had played 43 matches between 1876-94, winning 14, losing 23 and drawing six. The Aussies had played 17 series in this period, winning five, losing 11 and drawing one. Australia’s best performance in their first 18 years was securing a 2-0 win over England in a four-game home series while the worst loss was in the 1886 Ashes that they went down 0-3.

West Indies (success 23.07%):

The West Indies had played only 26 Tests in their first 18-19 years (1928-1947/48) and won six of them, lost 12 and drew eight. Of the seven series they played in the same period, the Windies won two, lost four and drew one. Their best series win (2-0) had come against England at home in 1947-48 while their worst show was also against England in England in 1928 when they were bulldozed 0-3.

South Africa (success 18.6%):

The third team to have featured in Test cricket in cricket’s ‘ancient’ days, South Africa had won eight of their 43 Tests played between 1888-1921 and lost 28 and drawn seven. The Proteas had played 14 series in this period, winning two (both against England) and losing 12. South Africa’s biggest series victory in their first 18 years came in 1905-06 when they beat England 4-1 in a five-game home series. Their worst had come in 1913-14 when England thumped them 4-0, also in a home series.

Sri Lanka (success 17.17%):

It’s quite a shock but facts back Sri Lanka as the second-best team in terms of Test victories in their first 18 years since debut in 1981-82. The islanders won 17 Tests between 1981-82 and 1999-2000 but they also played 99 games in the same period. The lost 39 Tests and drew 43 in the same period. The total number of series Sri Lanka played in their first 18 years is 45 of which they could win just 12, lose 23 and drew 10. The Lankans’ best Test series victory came against Zimbabwe who they beat 2-0 in a home series in 1996 while they lost 0-3 twice – against India (1993-94) and Australia (1995-96) to witness the worst in Tests in the same period.

Pakistan (success 16.12%):

Unlike their arch-rivals India, Pakistan have a better record in their first 18 years in Test cricket. They had played 62 Tests between 1952-70 and won 10 of them (success percentage 16.12), lost 17 and drawn 35. Pakistan’s best series victories in their first 18 years came against New Zealand at home twice – in 1955-56 and 1964-65 – as they won 2-0 on both occasions. Pakistan’s biggest series loss during their journey to adulthood was against England in 1962 when they lost an away series 0-4.

Zimbabwe (success 9.30%):

Zimbabwe, the second youngest Test team after Bangladesh, rank sixth in terms of Test wins in their first 18 years (1992-2010). Zimbabwe have also won eight matches in this period, though they have played a huge number of games (86) which means their success percentage is just 9.30. They lost 49 games and drew 28. Zimbabwe defeated big teams like India and Pakistan (twice each) besides taming Bangladesh four times by the time they turned adults in Test cricket. One should, however, keep in mind that Zimbabwe had not played any Test cricket between 2005 and 2011 owing to its declining standards and instability caused by players’ exodus and financial instability.

India (success 4%):

Virat Kohli might react with disbelief today but there is no denying that India were one the second-worst side in playing Tests in their first 18 years. After making their debut in Test in 1932, India had gone on to play 25 Tests till 1951-52 but could win just one, while losing 12 and drawing as many games. Of the seven series they played in the same period, India could win none but lost six and drew one. India’s biggest loss was 0-4 against Don Bradman’s Australia Down Under while their best show was a 1-1 draw against England in a home series in 1951-52.

New Zealand (no success):

The Kiwis are the only side who could not win even a single Test in their first 18 years (1929-1946/47) and lost six and drew 10 of the 16 games they played. They played seven series — lost five of them and drew two. Their biggest loss was 0-2 in a home series versus South Africa in 1931-32. There was, not to mention, no success.