Joy’s return, Murad’s emergence reinforce Test core

The Mount Maunganui Test in January 2022, when Bangladesh beat the then ICC World Test Championship holders New Zealand in their own backyard, remains their biggest achievement in the five-day format till date.

That victory was the collective outcome of many outstanding performances, one of which was opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy's 78-run knock off 228 balls, a gutsy effort from someone playing in just his second ever Test.

Joy's fortitude did not go unnoticed as though the right-hander's form with the bat slumped, he kept getting picked for the Test team for the next 14 series -- a string that ended in June this year when he was dropped from the Sri Lanka tour.

The 25-year-old's exodus from the Test side did not last for too long as he was recalled for the two Tests at home against Ireland. In the series opener in Sylhet, he announced his return with a career-best 171 -- a knock that helped the hosts beat the Irish by an innings and 47 runs inside four days on Friday.

"Joy was not in the team. Coming back after being dropped and playing such a big innings in the first match was actually very tough for him. But the way he batted, it didn't even feel like he was making a comeback," skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, who also hit a century in the first innings, heaped praises on Joy after the match.

"I think Joy has made a lot of changes to himself in terms of mindset. I hope that he plays with this mentality against all teams in the future," he added.

Seven of the first eight names in Bangladesh's playing XI against Ireland was the same as the Mount Maunganui Test, signalling a solid base in the Test side, while the names of the bowlers were different.

One of them was Hasan Murad, a left-arm spinner who made his Test debut as the third member of the team's spin trio.

Murad held his own alongside veteran spinners in Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam -- both with over 200 Test wickets – and stood out with the amount of turn he produced.

Having bagged 2 for 47 in the first innings, he bagged 4 for 60 in the second, breaking Ireland's resistance on Day 4 with the wicket of skipper Andrew Balbirnie.

The 24-year-old had to wait for a while for his Test cap, having been a part of the side since the home series against New Zealand in 2023 -- the beginning of Shanto's first captaincy stint.

And the match where Shanto resumed his second stint, Murad began his journey as a Test cricketer.

"Murad was outstanding. He was sitting out for quite a few series, not getting a chance. But he plays first-class cricket every year, and performs every year. If you look at his stats, they are very good," said the skipper.

"The way he bowled after coming in was worth watching. And I hope the way he has started, he will slowly improve more and continue to contribute more to the team," he added.

Murad's smooth integration and Joy's successful comeback added dimensions to Shanto's Test squad but still the side has some way to go before earning formidability.