53 all out in just 19 overs in Durban and 80 all out in only 23.3 overs in Gqeberha.
That sums up Bangladesh’s batting debacle in the recently concluded two-Test away series against South Africa.
After winning against holders New Zealand in a World Test Championship match at Mount Maunganui earlier this year, there was hope that the Tigers would perform well in the series against the Proteas.
The hope became stronger when South Africa’s regular players from the Test squad were released to take part in the Indian Premier League.
Absence of players like Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Rassie van der Dussen, Marco Jansen, Aiden Markram and Lungi Ngidi gave Bangladesh camp hope and even dare to think of winning a Test match or even series in the Proteas' backyard.
The confidence level went even higher when the Tigers clinched their first ever ODI series against the Proteas away from home just before the Test series.
But that hope or dream crashed hard soon.
And it crashed in a frustrating manner.
In the first Test in Durban, Bangladesh elected to field surprisingly and that proved costly later.
Reports emerged that Bangladesh senior batsmen advised skipper Mominul Haque to bowl first.
Reports also said the head coach Russell Domingo and bowling coach Allan Donald gave suggestions to bat first in case of winning the toss.
But Tigers senior players did not want to face the Proteas pace attack in the first session of the Test.
That’s a definitely questionable approach from Tigers senior players particularly when there is no Rabada, Jansen and Ngidi.
If Bangladesh batsmen are not ready or comfortable to face a second-string South African pace attack in the early hours of a Test on a relatively good batting track, then the situation is really frustrating.
Similar things happened during the first Test in 2017 when the then captain Mushfiqur Rahim surprisingly elected to field first on a good batting track at Potchefstroom.
South Africa scored heavily in the first innings and took a healthy first innings lead and eventually Bangladesh were all out for 90 in the fourth innings and suffered a 333-run loss in that Test in 2017.
This time the Tigers lost the first Test by 220 runs but five years later, the scenario and thinking process are kind of similar.
It seems that Bangladesh were on the back foot straightaway from the toss in Durban and played the match with the fear of failure.
The conditions during the fourth innings in Durban and Gqeberha were challenging, no doubt, but there is no excuse for being bundled out for just 53 and 80 respectively.
A Test side, which has just beaten New Zealand a few months ago, were being bowled out in just 19 overs and 23.3 overs in fourth innings of Durban and Gqeberha Tests.
And more surprisingly South Africa spin duo, Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer did the damage on the Tigers.
On both occasions of fourth innings, not a single over was bowled by South African pacers.
Maharaj and Harmer bowled all of those 19 and 23.3 overs and it was more than enough to demolish Bangladesh batting order completely.
Bangladesh batsmen, who are used to playing in spinning conditions and spinners in home all their life, certainly looked hapless and clueless against Maharaj and Harmer.
It was true that the pitches were turning and had good bounce as the game went on, but again, that did not have the demons that would bundle out a side in just 19 and 23.3 overs.
Along with Maharaj and Harmer’s brilliance, there were reckless batting and inexplicable shot-making from Bangladeshi batters too.
That’s really painful to watch for spectators.
Even commentators of these Test matches were surprised too.
After losing the first Test, Bangladesh complained of sledging from South African players and also had reservations about local umpires.
In reply, Proteas captain Dean Elgar asked Bangladesh to "harden up and play the game at a level that maybe they're not used to".
The shot was fired.
Bangladesh needed to give reply in the field, with the bat and ball and with the performance.
But the Tigers failed to produce any fight.
Going to bat on 21 for three on the fourth day in the second Test, there was still a chance to show some fight and courage.
But the remaining batting was trembling and falling apart like house of cards.
It took just one hour to wrap up seven wickets.
From 2pm Bangladesh local time to 3pm, it’s all gone.
It was kind of like watching highlights on TV.
And in that one hour the Tigers batting looked like a rudderless ship.
If we look at our Test team’s performance in the last four-five years, the performance graph is going downward to be honest.
Yes, there were some good performances here and there, but losing Tests against Zimbabwe, Afghanistan or even second string West Indies at home in the last few years should be counted as miserable.
South Africa is always considered as one of the toughest places to play Test matches, but that does not mean Bangladesh Test team will be all out for just 53 and 80 or manage to bat for just 19 overs and 23.3 overs, and more painfully losing all the 20 wickets in two fourth innings to South African spinners.
If Bangladesh don’t “harden-up” their games and mentality and build positive attitude towards Test cricket, then winning a Test match at New Zealand away will be considered as a “fluke”, and that is certainly not what the Bangladesh cricket team or Bangladesh Cricket Board want to be labeled as after playing Test cricket for more than 20 years.
