What is the toughest job in Test cricket right now?
For those who closely follow the longest format, most would unanimously agree - opening the innings. And for a left-handed opener, the job becomes more challenging due to several technical reasons.
Since the pace-bowling revolution hit Test cricket, left-handed top-order batters have suffered the most. The Kookaburra ball now features a more pronounced seam, cricket boards across the world are preparing more bowler-friendly pitches, and seamers have mastered the art of attacking left-handers from around the wicket with the new ball. Add to that the now-ubiquitous “wobble seam” delivery, and the odds are firmly stacked against southpaw openers.

Bangladesh’s Shadman Islam, who debuted in 2018, has been no exception.
He has had very little breathing space throughout his Test career. Known for his long innings, the 29-year-old began his Test journey with a patient 76 off 199 balls against the West Indies in Mirpur. Since then, he has remained in and around the Test setup. 

Shadman hit his maiden Test hundred in Harare in 2021 against Zimbabwe on a lively pitch. But consistent big scores eluded him—until Bangladesh’s tour of Pakistan in 2024, where he played a crucial 93-run knock to set up a historic win in Rawalpindi. He followed it up with another fifty in Kanpur against India and was instrumental in Bangladesh’s win over West Indies in Kingston, scoring 64 and a vital 46 in the second innings. Still, that elusive second Test century remained out of reach—until Tuesday.

At the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Cricket Stadium the drought finally ended. Shadman scored a composed and classy 120 off 181 balls, laced with 16 fours and a six, to give Bangladesh a first-innings lead on Day 2 of the Test against Zimbabwe. His long-awaited milestone also ended Bangladesh’s two-and-a-half-year wait for a century from an opener.
Over the past couple of years, Bangladesh’s top-order has repeatedly faltered. Shadman’s century was the first by a Bangladeshi opener since Zakir Hasan’s 100 against India in Chattogram in December 2022. With this knock, Shadman became only the third Bangladeshi opener to score multiple Test centuries. In total, Bangladesh’s openers have produced 20 Test hundreds—10 of them from Tamim Iqbal and two from Imrul Kayes.

Shadman shared a 118-run opening stand with Anamul Haque—the first century partnership by Bangladesh openers in 33 innings. The last such stand came when Zakir and Najmul Hossain Shanto put on 124 against India. Despite the record-breaking day, Shadman wasn’t entirely satisfied with how things ended for his side.
“I could have batted longer,” he said after stumps on Tuesday. “We were in a good position but lost our way a bit. I think we lost three more wickets than we would have liked.” Known for taking his time early in the innings, Shadman revealed a different side on Tuesday, mixing caution with aggression. He played several attacking strokes—especially off the Zimbabwe pacers early on and against the spinners later. He scored 41 runs with cover drives and added another 38 runs through flicks and pulls between long-off and midwicket.
“I didn’t change anything as an opener,” Shadman explained when asked about his unusually attacking approach. “We stuck to our plans. We haven’t had a big partnership in a while, but we’re working on making things better.”