Bangladesh opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy made a spectacular return to international cricket after more than a year away from the national team, scoring a vital half-century that put his side in a commanding position against Ireland in the first Test at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
Dominant Return After Long Absence
On Wednesday, the second day of the ongoing Test match, Mahmudul Hasan Joy announced his comeback in style. His impressive batting performance came after Ireland were bowled out for 286 runs in their first innings. The opening partnership between Joy and Shadman Islam proved to be the foundation of Bangladesh's strong response.
The duo put together a magnificent 168-run opening stand, which now stands as the fourth-highest first-wicket partnership in Bangladesh's Test cricket history. The record still belongs to the famous pair of Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes.
Partnership Makes History
On a batting-friendly wicket where the ball was coming on nicely to the bat, both Bangladeshi openers looked comfortable against an Irish bowling attack that struggled to create consistent threats. Their commanding performance saw them become the eighth opening pair for Bangladesh to register a 100-run partnership in Test cricket.
This remarkable achievement highlights the growing strength of Bangladesh's top-order batting, which has often been a concern for the team in the longest format of the game.
From Debut Struggles to International Success
Mahmudul Hasan Joy, born on November 13, 2000, shares his birthday with a significant moment in Bangladesh cricket history - the day the country played its inaugural Test match against India in Dhaka, which ended in defeat.
The young batter made his Test debut against Pakistan in 2021 but managed only six runs in his first international appearance. However, he quickly bounced back with a memorable 78 against New Zealand during Bangladesh's famous victory, followed by an outstanding 137 against South Africa - his maiden Test century in just his third match.
Despite this promising start, Joy experienced a dip in form that saw him average only 14.92 in seven Tests since January 2024, with just three fifties in 18 matches over two years. This led to his exclusion from the national team for more than a year.
The Road Back to International Cricket
Determined to reclaim his spot, Joy focused on domestic cricket where his performances in the National Cricket League caught the selectors' attention. Playing for Chattogram Division against Rajshahi Division, he scored 127 and 51 runs, demonstrating the consistency and form that earned him his national team recall.
His successful return to Test cricket against Ireland proves that the selectors' faith was well-placed and suggests that Bangladesh may have found a solution to their long-standing opening batsman concerns.
