Cricket has several milestones, and some have an impact on history to the point where it pauses, smiles, and puts on reading glasses. Mushfiqur Rahim’s 100th test was one of them. During a hot day in Dhaka and with the burden of being the first Bangladesh player to compete in 100 test matches, 38-year-old Rahim did not simply appear; he produced a masterpiece: 106 runs from 214 deliveries, and the 13th test century of his long and storied career. He not only entered an exclusive group with Colin Cowdrey, Javed Miandad, Graeme Smith, and Joe Root, but he also opened the VIP entrance for names such as these 11 men who, throughout the entire history of Test Cricket, had scored a century in their 100th Test match.
A Century That Came From Muscle Memory, Not Hype
While some players tend to rise to the occasion (others are the occasion). Rahim’s 100th test was not a fairy tale written with all the drama; this is just another example of the brand he has been representing for almost 2 decades- discipline. He hit 5 boundaries in 214 balls…the type of innings that kids don’t post on Instagram reels; the type of innings that wins you test matches. Much like Alec Stewart and Hashim Amla did when they both took the field for their 100th tests, Rahim was chasing control…not highlight reels. The pace at which he batted was consistent, resolute, and authoritative…classic Rahim.
The Unlikely Torchbearer of Bangladesh’s Red-Ball Identity
Mushfiqur has long been an advocate of the longer game, and this is despite Bangladesh being one of the most successful teams at the shorter version of the game (white ball). He is a life-long test cricketer, and in a nation that values patience above all things as a currency, he has invested it in spades. He has earned 13 Test centuries, and they have never come in batting heaven but rather as gruel. And when he achieved the biggest personal landmark of his career, he was not the sparkler; he was the glue that held everything together.
Joining Legends, but on His Own Terms
While the club includes big hitters (e.g., Smith, Ponting, Root, Greenidge) or power-hitters (Warner), and while what you don’t see right away is that Mushfiqur has had a very different experience than each of those batters. The other batters have played for the top teams in their respective countries. Rahim took Bangladesh’s emerging cricket team on his back for years. While Ponting got two ton-100s, Warner hit 200. Root seemed to bat as if he had an infinite number of lives in India during the 2018 World Cup. While Rahim’s 106 was not flashy, it was just enough to get the job done; it did apply pressure rather than simply demonstrate dominance. Therefore, this century represents him well.
Mushfiqur Rahim’s 100th Test century is the type of achievement that has a louder impact than all the tweets and Instagram posts about big names, even though he may never have the same level of media attention as Warner, the same loudness as Ponting, or the same amount of headlines as Root. His 100th Test century is a testament to what Bangladesh wants to become in Test Cricket: steady, long-lasting, and with a solid foundation. The largest Bangladesh Test scores are yet to come; there will also be larger Bangladesh Test scores at a quicker rate. However, few will mean as much to Bangladesh cricket fans.
Bangladesh may eventually develop into a consistent Test team; when they do, their performance will be studied by analysts, and they will follow the trail of belief that got them to where they are today.
Stay updated on the latest cricket news and exciting updates at Six6slive. Dive into our in-depth articles and analyses to connect with the action today!