DHAKA: Bangladesh’s historic Test victory in Australia is the result of years of reforms aimed at strengthening red-ball cricket, following a difficult period for the country’s cricket in 2019.

Bangladesh secured their first-ever Test win on Australian soil on Sunday, completing a journey that began with efforts to make Test cricket a greater priority both financially and structurally.

The reforms followed a players’ strike and the suspension of star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan in 2019, after which Bangladesh endured a difficult tour of India. The setbacks prompted the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to rethink its approach to the longest format.

One of the major changes was an overhaul of player contracts and a significant increase in financial incentives for Test cricket.

Former Bangladesh captain Akram Khan, who was then head of the BCB’s cricket operations, said the board wanted to encourage players to give greater importance to Test cricket.

Before 2019, Bangladesh players had a single central contract covering all three formats. The BCB later introduced separate contracts for Tests, ODIs and Twenty20 internationals, while doubling the Test match fee to 800,000 taka ($6,500).

“There was not much financial incentive for players to prioritise Test cricket,” Khan said. “We thought that if we increased the financial reward for Tests compared with the other two formats, the situation could change.”

Focus on Fast Bowling

The reforms were not limited to player payments.

The BCB also decided to prepare greener pitches for the domestic National Cricket League and introduced Dukes balls. The aim was to develop fast bowlers capable of performing effectively overseas rather than relying primarily on Bangladesh’s traditional strength in spin bowling.

Former player and selector Abdur Razzak said these changes helped nurture players such as pace bowler Nahid Rana.

The impact of Bangladesh’s fast-bowling development was clearly visible in Darwin. Bangladesh’s pacemen took all of Australia’s wickets in their first innings, which ended at 198, with Hasan Mahmud recording career-best figures of 6-55.

Bangladesh’s progress in Test cricket has become increasingly evident in recent years. The team has recorded Test victories in New Zealand and the West Indies, swept Pakistan at home and away, and now achieved its breakthrough victory against Australia.

Historic Return to Australia

The Darwin Test also ended Bangladesh’s 23-year wait for a Test match in Australia.

Bangladesh had last played a Test in Australia in 2003, with several planned tours failing to materialise since then.

The match was part of the World Test Championship cycle and was played in Darwin rather than more established venues such as Melbourne and Sydney. It was also not scheduled during Australia’s traditional home summer season.

The unexpected victory could now give Bangladesh greater leverage in future international scheduling discussions.

BCB president Tamim Iqbal said the victory could strengthen Bangladesh’s position ahead of discussions over the ICC’s Future Tours Programme (FTP).

“There will be an FTP meeting next month,” Tamim told reporters in Dhaka on Sunday. “This victory will help us in discussions with other teams.”

“We will try to make the FTP as competitive as possible and play against the bigger teams.”

For Bangladesh, the historic win in Darwin represents more than a single Test victory. It is the latest result of a long-term effort to strengthen the country’s Test cricket structure and develop a team capable of competing successfully outside home conditions.