Mushfiqur breaks Bangladesh record before Australia Test
SYDNEY: Bangladesh’s veteran wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim created a unique record before even taking the field in his first Test match in Australia, adding another milestone to an already remarkable international career.
Mushfiqur entered the Australia Test having already played 103 Test matches, making him the most experienced player ever to feature in a Test in Australia for the first time.
The achievement underlined the longevity of his career. While most players make their first appearance in a country relatively early in their Test journey, Mushfiqur reached the landmark after more than a century of matches.
Before him, the record among Bangladeshi players belonged to fellow batter Mominul Haque, who had played 78 Tests before making his first Test appearance in Australia.
Mominul now moves to second place on the list, while Mushfiqur’s 103-match experience puts him well ahead of the previous mark.
The Bangladesh veteran’s achievement also eclipsed a record previously held by former Sri Lankan captain Marvan Atapattu.
Atapattu played his first Test in Australia in 2004 after appearing in 73 Tests, making him the most experienced player to make a first Test appearance in the country at the time.
Mushfiqur’s milestone therefore represents another significant chapter in a career that has made him one of Bangladesh’s most accomplished Test cricketers.
However, the Bangladesh star’s achievement in Australia is not the biggest record of its kind in Test cricket.
That global record belongs to England fast-bowling great James Anderson, who had played an extraordinary 175 Tests before making his first Test appearance in Pakistan.
Mushfiqur’s milestone nevertheless stands out as a remarkable testament to his consistency and longevity.
At 103 Tests, he arrived in Australia not as a newcomer to Test cricket, but as one of Bangladesh’s most experienced players — making his first Test in the country a historic occasion before the match had even begun.
