Bangladesh rewrite Test ranking history

Historic win in Darwin and a drawn series in Australia lift Bangladesh to their highest-ever ICC Test ranking Bangladesh have returned from Australia with a historic series draw and an even bigger milestone on the rankings table, climbing from ninth to sixth in the ICC Test rankings for the first time in their history.

The rise comes despite a heavy defeat in Mackay, where Australia won by an innings and 51 runs inside two days. The result levelled the two-match series 1-1, but Bangladesh's nine-wicket victory in Darwin proved significant enough to lift them three places in the rankings.

Bangladesh now have 78 rating points, moving above Sri Lanka, Pakistan and the West Indies. Australia remain top with 126 points, followed by South Africa, New Zealand, India and England.

For Bangladesh, the significance goes well beyond a number beside their name.

The sixth-place finish represents the highest position they have reached since becoming a Test nation in 2000. It is the latest indication that their progress in the longest format is beginning to translate into tangible results against stronger opposition.

The transformation began in Darwin.

Bangladesh arrived in Australia without having won a Test on Australian soil. They left the first Test with one of the most important victories in their history, beating the hosts by nine wickets and taking a 1-0 lead in the series.

Mackay then produced a completely different picture.

Australia responded with overwhelming pace-bowling dominance, dismissing Bangladesh for 64 and 95 on the way to an emphatic victory. Mitchell Starc claimed 10 wickets in the match, while Bangladesh's Shoriful Islam produced a remarkable seven-wicket haul of his own.

The second Test exposed the gap that still exists between Bangladesh and the world's leading Test sides. But the overall series also showed that the Tigers are increasingly capable of competing with them.

That is why the ranking jump carries particular weight.

Bangladesh did not simply collect points against a lower-ranked opponent. Their rise came after facing the world's top-ranked Test team in its own conditions and taking a Test away from it.

Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has already pointed towards what Bangladesh need next. He believes the team requires more opportunities to play against leading Test nations, particularly in difficult overseas conditions.

That may ultimately determine whether sixth place becomes a milestone or the beginning of a longer climb.

Bangladesh have now shown they can produce a historic result in Australia. The next challenge is consistency-repeating that level of performance often enough to remain among the world's leading Test teams.

For a side that entered the series ranked ninth, the journey to sixth has been rapid.

The Mackay defeat may have ended Bangladesh's dream of winning the series.

It did not end the significance of the tour.