Keeping up with the big boys

As the dust settles on what was a surprisingly closely fought Test series between England and Bangladesh, attention quickly turns to the three-match one-day series which starts in five days time. There's no time for reflection and relaxation in modern international cricket.

Although Bangladesh have made marked steps forwards in the way they play Tests - even though they sometimes revert to type, as was the case with their batting on the final day of the series - in the shorter form of the game there remains a massive gulf between them and the rest (with the possible exception of the declining Zimbabweans).

The stats tell a sorry tale. Bangladesh have played 79 full ODIs and won three - with only one success against another Tests-playing country. And their one victory - against Pakistan in the 1999 World Cup - is one of the games most scrutinised by those looking at match-fixing. It's best to leave the stats to tell their own story. Pakistan bowled 28 wides - they gave away 40 extras in all - and also three of their players were run out in what was regarded at the time as a very poor performance. Even if this result is taken at face value, Bangladesh are way out of their league in the cutthroat world of one-day cricket.

Their performances should be compared with those of Kenya, the country nipping at their heels as the next candidate for full Test status. The pair have met seven times and Bangladesh have managed only one win. They have not only lost the other six, but lost them almost every time by comprehensive margins, the most recent in the 2003 World Cup; Kenya reached the semi-finals, Bangladesh slinked home winless having even lost to Canada.

Bangaldesh's recent Tests in Australia and Pakistan have shown that they are learning to adapt, but both have been followed by one-sided one-day series. At least against England they have home advantage, but the outcome is unlikely to be any different.