Mehedi Miraz scoops the all-round show

Even though some individual outstanding performances marked Bangladesh’s successful year but the feat achieved by Mehedi Hasan Miraz, the former Under-19 captain, was distinctly different. Mehedi had led the national team in the ICC Under-19 World Cup, where Bangladesh finished third, just a few months before his debut in the senior team.

Mehedi almost single-handedly guided the Under-19 side to achieve its best result in the country’s cricketing history, scoring 242 runs and picking up 12 wickets. He was given the Man of the Tournament award.
Mehedi took the cricketing world by storm just like Mustafizur Rahman. His 12-159 in the second Test helped Bangladesh clinch their first ever Test victory against England. The victory came at a time when Bangladesh needed to win against a top-flight opposition in the longer version of cricket, to prove that their ODI success was far from a fluke.
He finished the series by taking 19 wickets, highest by any Bangladeshi bowler, and broke the record of Charlie Turner achieved 129 years ago. Turner, who played 17 Tests for Australia, was a medium fast bowler. 
In 1877, Turner picked up 18 wickets against England and became the highest wicket taker in a two-match Test series.
Mehedi achieved the milestone against the same opponent. Besides, he set another record. His 12-159, including double sixer in the series-decider second Test, eclipsed Enamul Haque’s haul of 12 for 200 against Zimbabwe in 2005.
He also became the fourth youngest player to take 10 wickets in a Test match, after compatriot Enamul Haque, Pakistan’s Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, and India’s Laxman Sivaramakrishan.
Mehedi is the ninth cricketer who was adjudged Man of the Match in the maiden series and this put him on the same pedestal with Rohit Sharma, James Pattinson, Vernon Philander, R Ashwin, Ajantha Mendis, Stuart Clark, Jacques Rudolph, and Sourav Ganguly.
The 19-year-old off-spinner shattered English batsmen in the second Test which Bangladesh won in three days. His magic spell demolished England for 164 from 100-0.
He led Bangladesh’s spin attack with 6-77 — his third six-wicket haul in only the second Test — helped Bangladesh usher in a new dawn in Test cricket, with a historic 108-run win over a formidable English side.
Mehedi hit the headlines after his debut Test in Chittagong. Perhaps fooled by his boyish charm and wide grin, England struggled against him throughout the series and had surrendered seven wickets to him in the first Test.
Primarily, a batting all-rounder who has the knack of picking up wickets with his slow off-spin, Mehedi was the great revelation of 2016. The selectors felt he would be quite useful against England in a turning pitch. Mehedi, who has a simple action, is adding more variety to his bowling.
The offie was born in Barisal and grew up in Daulatpur on the outskirts of Khulna city. For two years, he played at the U-19 level, where he first captained Bangladesh in the 2014 World Cup in UAE and then in 2016, when the country hosted the tournament.
He made his first-class debut in the 2014-15 season of the National Cricket League, but it was in the next season that he stole the limelight by bagging 30 wickets at an average of 16.43. He also had three 5-fors in the tourney.
Before the U-19 World Cup in 2016, Bangladesh had travelled to Kolkata to play a tri-series against India and Afghanistan. Then Mehedi had said his biggest dream was to play for the senior national side, following the footsteps of Mustafizur Rahman.
That dream came true for the off-spinner. His stellar domestic performances included 48 first-class and 27 Lists A wickets.
“I’ve just ended my career at the Under-19 level and like every other cricketers I also had a dream to play at the highest level for my country,” he said. “I’m aware that this requires perseverance and hard work and I am sure with time I will develop myself into an even better player.”

Mehedi Miraz scoops the all-round show

Even though some individual outstanding performances marked Bangladeshs successful year but the feat achieved by Mehedi Hasan Miraz, the former Under-19 captain, was distinctly different. Mehedi had led the national team in the ICC Under-19 World Cup, where Bangladesh finished third, just a few months before his debut in the senior team. Mehedi almost single-handedly guided the Under-19 side to achieve its best result in the countrys cricketing history, scoring 242 runs and picking up 12 wickets. He was given the Man of the Tournament award. Mehedi took the cricketing world by storm just like Mustafizur Rahman. His 12-159 in the second Test helped Bangladesh clinch their first ever Test victory against England. The victory came at a time when Bangladesh needed to win against a top-flight opposition in the longer version of cricket, to prove that their ODI success was far from a fluke. He finished the series by taking 19 wickets, highest by any Bangladeshi bowler, and broke the record of Charlie Turner achieved 129 years ago. Turner, who played 17 Tests for Australia, was a medium fast bowler. In 1877, Turner picked up 18 wickets against England and became the highest wicket taker in a two-match Test series. Mehedi achieved the milestone against the same opponent. Besides, he set another record. His 12-159, including double sixer in the series-decider second Test, eclipsed Enamul Haques haul of 12 for 200 against Zimbabwe in 2005. He also became the fourth youngest player to take 10 wickets in a Test match, after compatriot Enamul Haque, Pakistans Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, and Indias Laxman Sivaramakrishan. Mehedi is the ninth cricketer who was adjudged Man of the Match in the maiden series and this put him on the same pedestal with Rohit Sharma, James Pattinson, Vernon Philander, R Ashwin, Ajantha Mendis, Stuart Clark, Jacques Rudolph, and Sourav Ganguly. The 19-year-old off-spinner shattered English batsmen in the second Test which Bangladesh won in three days. His magic spell demolished England for 164 from 100-0. He led Bangladeshs spin attack with 6-77 his third six-wicket haul in only the second Test helped Bangladesh usher in a new dawn in Test cricket, with a historic 108-run win over a formidable English side. Mehedi hit the headlines after his debut Test in Chittagong. Perhaps fooled by his boyish charm and wide grin, England struggled against him throughout the series and had surrendered seven wickets to him in the first Test. Primarily, a batting all-rounder who has the knack of picking up wickets with his slow off-spin, Mehedi was the great revelation of 2016. The selectors felt he would be quite useful against England in a turning pitch. Mehedi, who has a simple action, is adding more variety to his bowling. The offie was born in Barisal and grew up in Daulatpur on the outskirts of Khulna city. For two years, he played at the U-19 level, where he first captained Bangladesh in the 2014 World Cup in UAE and then in 2016, when the country hosted the tournament. He made his first-class debut in the 2014-15 season of the National Cricket League, but it was in the next season that he stole the limelight by bagging 30 wickets at an average of 16.43. He also had three 5-fors in the tourney. Before the U-19 World Cup in 2016, Bangladesh had travelled to Kolkata to play a tri-series against India and Afghanistan. Then Mehedi had said his biggest dream was to play for the senior national side, following the footsteps of Mustafizur Rahman. That dream came true for the off-spinner. His stellar domestic performances included 48 first-class and 27 Lists A wickets. Ive just ended my career at the Under-19 level and like every other cricketers I also had a dream to play at the highest level for my country, he said. Im aware that this requires perseverance and hard work and I am sure with time I will develop myself into an even better player.