Bangladesh's long Test journey faces its toughest challenge in Australia

Bangladesh are a markedly improved Test side from the team that arrived in Australia 23 years ago, when they were still only three years into their Test journey. But while much has changed since that 2003 tour, the gap between Bangladesh and Australia in Australian conditions remains significant — and the visitors still have a long way to go before they can genuinely expect to compete with the hosts over five days.

Back then, Bangladesh were very much a fledgling Test team, and the enormity of the challenge was underlined by former Australia batter David Hookes, who urged the hosts to complete the Test in one day in the build-up to the series. Twenty-three years on, Bangladesh arrive as a considerably more seasoned and competitive Test side, having recorded notable victories, including a historic win over New Zealand in New Zealand.

Yet taking on Australia in Australia remains a different proposition. As the two sides prepare for the opening Test of the two-match series in Darwin, there is still a sense that Bangladesh's ability to survive five days against the hosts is a bigger talking point than their chances of winning or drawing the match.

It was therefore hardly surprising to find a Bangladeshi journalist asking captain Najmul Hossain Shanto whether they were aware that the buzz surrounding the Test was more about its potential duration than anything else. Najmul insisted they were not concerned about it, but admitted he was aware of the noise, which was uncomfortable, if nothing else.

"No, there are no discussions in the camp about how many days the Test match will last. As players, we want to play five days of cricket, we want to play good cricket for five days, we want to play each session by session, which is what we always say. So, each session is important," Najmul said.

"Will it be four days, will it be five days, will it be three days — there will be such discussions. As a player, we will always aim to see how good cricket we can play here," he said.

The discussion around the duration of the Test only grew stronger after Bangladesh were bowled out for 54 in their second innings of the lone practice game against Cricket Australia XI. The batters crumbled without putting up much of a fight, although Najmul was keen to put the result into perspective.

"It was a practice match, and it can happen. We came here earlier to prepare ourselves. I think we have prepared ourselves pretty well, and we're pretty confident that we will play some good cricket here," said Najmul.

Najmul added that Bangladesh had been preparing specifically for the extra bounce they are likely to encounter, knowing it will be crucial in dealing with Australia's pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.

"Yeah, obviously. I think bounce is the main key and in the last few months at home soil we have been preparing some bouncy wickets and we tried to play a few ODI series on a bouncy track," said Najmul.

"So, that gives us a little bit more idea. But yes, here there will be a different bounce and we need to prepare ourselves pretty well," he said.

"We came here, I think, 10-12 days earlier. So, that gives us a little bit more idea regarding the bounce. So, yes, there will be a challenge and they have been a brilliant bowling attack, world-class bowling attack. But as a team, it's a good opportunity to challenge them and accept those challenges. So, I'm pretty confident that the boys are ready and they will enjoy this challenge," he added.

Najmul can expect a better batting performance than the one produced in the practice game with Litton Das fit to play the opening Test after recovering from the injury that forced him to sit out the warm-up.

"Of course, with the arrival of Liton bhai, the depth of the batting is definitely increasing a bit and he has consistency there," said Najmul.

The absence of pacer Nahid Rana from the Test series due to injury is a significant blow for Bangladesh, with his raw pace potentially capable of making an impact in Australian conditions.

"I will definitely miss it. But now there is no point in thinking about 'what if'. It is very unfortunate that Nahid Rana is not here. But the pace unit that is here, I believe that they will also be able to use these conditions well," he added.

Bangladesh can draw confidence from their historic Test victory over New Zealand in New Zealand, as well as their ODI wins over Australia on relatively sporting wickets at home. But the challenge in Australia is of an altogether different magnitude.

And perhaps that is why the question of whether Bangladesh can simply make it to the fifth day has become part of the conversation. For a team that has come a long way since its first Test tour of Australia 23 years ago, the progress is undeniable. But so too is the distance that remains to be covered before Bangladesh can expect to consistently take on Australia on their own turf.