Taskin Ahmed Honoured to Face Australia in Test Series, 14 Years After First Visit

Bangladesh fast bowler Taskin Ahmed is preparing for a memorable return to Australia, 14 years after his first visit to the country as an Under-19 cricketer.

Taskin’s first trip to Australia came at the 2012 Under-19 World Cup, where he dismissed Travis Head in a quarter-final match. Fourteen years later, he could open the bowling against Head again, this time in a Test match in Darwin as Bangladesh begin a long-awaited series against Australia.

Taskin described the opportunity as a proud moment for himself and his teammates.“We are really honoured to be here to be playing the Test series against Australia. No doubt Australia is one of the biggest teams in the world and playing in Australia against Australia in Test cricket, it's a really proud moment for every one of our players.”

The Bangladesh seamer admitted that Australia remains one of his favourite places to play cricket. He has already represented his country in the 2015 ODI World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, but despite making his international debut against Australia in a T20I in Mirpur 12 years ago, he has never faced them in an international match on Australian soil.

Taskin also revealed his admiration for Australia's legendary fast bowlers, having grown up watching them from Bangladesh.“From my childhood, I've been watching Australia team players, like great fast bowlers, legendary players. Really now I have the opportunity to play against them. So I'm really excited.”

He specifically mentioned Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Scott Boland as players he has admired.

For Bangladesh, however, the series is about much more than fulfilling a childhood dream. Matches against Australia are rare, making the upcoming Test series an important opportunity for the visitors to prove themselves in unfamiliar conditions.

Bangladesh enter the series with some confidence after recording a memorable 2-1 ODI series victory over Australia in Mirpur only two months ago. Their fast bowlers produced impressive performances in sporting conditions, although Australia's Test stars Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins and Head were not part of that series.

Taskin believes that victory has given Bangladesh valuable confidence, even while acknowledging the significant difference between playing at home and away.“We all played a good series and we won against Australia. That's giving us really good confidence to play against them. But still, home and away, there is a big difference.”

That difference was evident in Bangladesh's tour match against a Cricket Australia XI in Darwin.

Bangladesh were bowled out for just 54 before suffering an innings defeat. Campbell Thompson, a 22-year-old South Australian seamer with only three first-class wickets before the match, produced a stunning performance with eight wickets for 25 runs.

Earlier, Teague Wyllie struck 130 against a Bangladesh attack led by Taskin, giving the hosts a strong advantage before Thompson dismantled the visitors' batting order.

Taskin admitted the defeat was disappointing but viewed the match as useful preparation ahead of the Test series.“That wasn't a great feeling after losing against Cricket Australia, that practice game. But in cricket that happens. We are also still trying to adjust to the conditions and pitches quickly.”

Australia's Travis Head, meanwhile, played down the significance of the tour-match result. He pointed out that players often have their attention focused on the upcoming international match rather than a practice game.

Head said Bangladesh would naturally be disappointed by the result but suggested their main focus would already be on the Test beginning Thursday.

For Taskin, the series represents both a personal milestone and a major challenge. After first visiting Australia as a teenager in 2012, he now has the chance to share the field with some of the players he grew up admiring—and potentially face Travis Head once again, this time with a Test match at stake.