Tanzid learns to wait, then makes Australia pay

Tanzid Hasan Tamim has always been known for his attacking instincts. But against Australia in Darwin, it was his ability to wait that ultimately produced his most significant Test innings.
The 25-year-old opener scored 101 in only his second Test, becoming the first Bangladeshi batter to score a Test century on Australian soil. Yet the landmark innings was built not on constant aggression, but on patience, discipline and an understanding of what the situation demanded.
Australia’s formidable pace attack gave Tanzid little room to play his natural game, particularly with the new ball. Instead of forcing the issue, he concentrated on rotating the strike, defending the good deliveries and refusing to offer his wicket cheaply.
“I think playing against them with the new ball was a little difficult. We tried to reduce our shots and rotate the strike,” he said after his innings.
“We tried to stay at the wicket without playing bad shots and see how we could build a partnership.”
That approach allowed him to settle into the innings and form crucial partnerships with Mominul Haque and Najmul Hossain Shanto. Those stands gradually shifted the pressure back onto Australia and gave Bangladesh the platform to build a commanding first-innings total.
Tanzid said he never allowed the reputation of Australia’s bowlers to influence his decisions.
“I never play according to the bowler. I always try to bat according to the merit of the ball,” he said.
The Australians also tried to make life uncomfortable for him as his innings grew, both with their bowling and through verbal exchanges. But Tanzid said he had anticipated that possibility before arriving in the middle.
“I was prepared for this beforehand. I know when they don’t get wickets, they will make things difficult, whether through bowling or by talking,” he said.
“They did it to some extent, but not too much. Since I was already prepared, I didn’t give it too much importance.”
The key, according to Tanzid, was simply refusing to lose his composure.
“They did not bowl me many bad balls or give me much room. They bowled in very tight areas, so I tried to play with as much patience as possible,” he said.
His innings also showed that moving into Test cricket has not required him to abandon the attacking mindset that has defined his white-ball career.
“When I was selected for the Test team, everyone made my role clear — how I should play,” Tanzid said. “I think I came here with the same mindset I have when I bat in ODIs, and I tried to play with the same mindset.”
The difference was knowing when to suppress that instinct.
That maturity was evident when Australia repeatedly looked to restrict his scoring options. Tanzid adapted rather than forcing the game, finding ways to score while keeping his wicket safe.
His reward was a historic hundred and a standing ovation from the Darwin crowd when his innings finally ended.
“Getting a standing ovation was actually a very good feeling. It felt really good. This is perhaps the beauty of Test cricket that I experienced today,” he said.
The pitch also helped his confidence as the match progressed. Tanzid felt it had become increasingly favourable for batting after Australia were dismissed for 198 on the opening day.
“The wicket is very good with the new ball. The wicket seemed good to me, but when the ball gets old, it becomes a little tricky,” he said. “I think the pitch is getting better and better.”
Tanzid also credited Bangladesh’s preparation for helping him adapt to Australian conditions. The team arrived on 1 August and had several practice sessions before playing a warm-up match against a Cricket Australia XI.
“I think it was great preparation for us. We came here on August 1 and had a couple of practice sessions. We also played a practice match, which helped us a lot,” he said.
“I love playing in these conditions.”
Even after making history, Tanzid was already looking beyond his personal achievement. With Bangladesh holding a significant advantage, he wanted the team to keep batting and put the Australian bowlers under greater pressure.
“The longer we can bat, the better it is for our team,” he said. “We still have three days in hand, so we will want to bat for as many sessions as possible. The more runs we can give, the easier the job will be for our bowlers.”