Whole team deserves Player-of-the-Match award, says Najmul Hossain Shanto

Bangladesh defeated Australia by nine wickets in Darwin on August 16, 2026, marking the nation's first-ever Test victory on Australian soil. The match, played from August 13 to 16, saw Australia score 198 and 284 across two innings while Bangladesh replied with 426 and reached 57 for one in their second innings to secure the win.

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto reflected on the team's collective performance after the historic victory.

"I think the Bangladesh team should be given the Player-of-the-Match trophy. Everyone contributed in some way or other. Of course, Tamim's maiden hundred in only his second Test is always special. Miraz has done this type of performance in the past before. He was just outstanding with bat and ball. I was really proud of the way our lower order batted in this game. Hasan, Taijul, Taskin and even Ebadot. We usually don't get a lot out of their batting so this was a really important contribution in this game. We must give them credit," sadi Shanto as quoted by Cricinfo.

Embracing the challenge in Australian conditions

Mehidy Hasan Miraz, the 28-year-old all-rounder, delivered a standout performance with both bat and ball. He took multiple wickets in Australia's second innings, including the dismissal of Alex Carey caught behind for 30 and Beau Webster bowled for 5. His contributions with the bat also proved valuable in Bangladesh's first-innings total of 426. Tanzid Hasan scored his first Test century during Bangladesh's first innings on day two, providing crucial momentum to the team's batting effort.

Shanto acknowledged the challenging conditions and the quality of the Australian team. He explained that Bangladesh approached the tour with a mindset of embracing the challenge rather than being intimidated by it. The captain noted that the team had recent success to draw confidence from, having won a Test series against Pakistan 2-0 in May 2026.

"We have to admit that these are tough conditions. They have a world-class batting line-up, a world-class bowling attack. They are a fantastic cricket team. But ahead of this tour, we were having a conversation about not getting any opportunity of playing in Australia. Batting well against their bowling line-up, and bowling well to their batters, so we wanted to enjoy doing these things rather than feel worried about the conditions. We accepted the challenge, which showed in the way we adapted and enjoyed in this Test match," Shanto said.

National recognition for historic achievement

The victory resonated across Bangladesh, with senior government officials and cricket board leadership extending their congratulations to the team. Shanto revealed that the Prime Minister, the Board President and the Home Minister all called to congratulate the squad on the historic achievement. The captain expressed his gratitude for the recognition and acknowledged the significance of the moment for the nation.

"Our honourable prime minister called to congratulate us. Our board president also spoke to us, he is very happy. We also got a call from the home minister. These are special moments for us, as I believe everyone back home is enjoying our success. I prefer keeping myself grounded. It is my nature. We should definitely celebrate this win. We get these moments very few times in our life, so we should spend the whole day in celebrating this win," Shanto concluded.