FYI
We just recently drew 1-1 with the English side and won 2-1 on our last WI tour and apart from that 0-2 blip against SL we've given gun home sides a fair run for their money, heck we almost chased down 491 in Australia during the 2017 summer.
But you didn't chase down 491 did you? Because if you almost did, Bangladesh almost beat Australia in 2006 and almost beat Pakistan even earlier in 2003 if not for some classic cheating from Latif bhai.
As for England, yes I admit you drew 1-1 and also 2-2 in 2016. That looks pretty good on paper...until you realize two things:
1) Everyone wins at least 1 test in England. SL won an entire
series in 2014, India won a Test in 2014 when they got beaten everywhere, West Indies to date ranked below Bangladesh, mind you, won a Test there last year.
Given the amount of time India has before the Tests, unless England ups their game by an order of magnitude, India is going destroy them. So 1-1 or 2-2, has little meaning in my opinion.
2) Pakistan's performances in England are an anomaly. Because if it weren't, PAK would have won some Tests in NZ, AUS, and SA. I don't remember the last time Pakistan won a Test in any of those countries. And I almost forgot the 1-1 in Zimbabwe in 2013.
If Pakistan is winning all Tests they play in all different conditions, they would probably not be ranked #7.
Bangladesh is decade(s) away from that kind of a competitive edge, in test cricket i.e. and it would take a severe overhaul and a complete 180 in mindset to (a) get to such a state and (b) keep those performance on a consistent basis.
Perhaps.
And who's mindset are we talking about? BCB or the players?
The players' mindset is OK apart from the peculiar borderline personality whereby they refer to any of the other top 9 teams as "big sides" (inferiority complex) but also tend to make paradoxically extravagent statements like we'll whitewash Australia 2-0. But I highly doubt that is affecting on field performance. Its merely a talking point on forums such as this.
The BCB's mindset however could use a massive upgrade. Almost everything is either outdated or simply insufficient.
However, with the introduction of the World Test Championship, I see hope for accelerated progression for the following reasons:
1) Bangladesh's ODI competitiveness started back in 2010. I don't think thats a coincidence. Bangladesh had spent 4-5 years having a very competitive rivalry with Zimbabwe from 2005-2009. ZIM was just strong enough to keep Bangladesh on their toes and force them to learn from their mistakes. Having a rival team and playing them often (we must have played 7-8 bilateral series in those 5 years) was the catalyst to forming a competitive ODI unit.
2) With the WTC there will be enough opportunities against teams like WI, SL, NZ where Bangladesh can take those same baby steps they took with Zimbabwe in ODIs. WI and NZ might boss us at home, but in Bangladesh they will struggle more often than not. I base that on the fact that none of South Africa, England, or Australia dominated during their most recent tours to Bangladesh.
3) There will be plenty of opportunities to learn in Tests against Zimbabwe, Ireland, and Afghanistan. This was not possible in the past.
4) All of the above 3 points will increase exposure to overseas conditions which is currently almost non-existent.
decent prospect
