When Zimbabwe return to the ICC Test rankings after Thursday’s second Test against Bangladesh, they will enter the table above their opponents regardless of the result.
For Bangladesh, this is a damning indictment on their lack of progress since they entered the Test arena in November 2000, and raises further questions on why a nation of 150 million people has been unable to rise to the level of even the mediocre Test teams.
To put Bangladesh’s woes into context, it is worth pointing out the state of the nation that thrashed them by 335 runs in the first Test on Saturday.
Zimbabwe have just 75 professional cricketers, most of whom are on part-time contracts, and only returned to Test cricket in August 2011 after a six-year exile from the five-day game.
The African side went into the current Test series smarting from a dismal tour of the Caribbean, where they lost every match against the West Indies, and dispirited after their latest contract dispute with Zimbabwe Cricket, who are laden with debt.
Bangladesh, on the other hand, enjoyed an encouraging tour of Sri Lanka where they amassed their highest ever score in a Test.
Yet Saturday’s result was a reminder that for every step forward they have managed over the years there seems to have been an equal step back.
While the Harare Sports Club wicket had an even layer of green grass which ensured there was always something in it for the pace bowlers, too often Bangladesh’s batsmen were impatient and contributed to their own demise as they were bowled out for 134 and 147.
“We were expecting difficult conditions and good bowling,” captain Mushfiqur Rahim said afterwards, yet he offered no real answers as to why his side were unable to counter them.
The manner of defeat drew heavy criticism from everyone back home.
But Australian coach Shane Jurgensen suggested before the series began that what his side needs is a bit of sympathy if they are to handle the regular beatings and move forward.
“It’s a combination of a few things: media, general public, high expectations,” Jurgensen said.
“Everyone wants success, but what a lot of people forget sometimes is that we want success as well.
“When we have a bad day, we don’t mean to. Some people forget the boys are human beings and they are all very young and they have been learning.”
