Bangladesh made their Test debut in the year 2000 against India. For first few years it was a very difficult time for them and they faced some disappointing defeats. The margins were huge and at times the gaps between the teams were so big that it almost became farcical. The wide gap was clearly visible during the 2nd Asian Test Championship matches between Bangladesh and Pakistan as well as between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Pakistan beat Bangladesh by an innings as they had record five centurions in their only innings.
The story was the same in the next match against Sri Lanka at SSC, Colombo. On day one, Bangladesh were all out for 90 as Muralitharan took five wickets for 13 runs. When Sri Lanka came to bat, their captain Sanath Jayasuriya absolutely blasted the Bangladeshi bowlers and scored 89 runs off 56 balls. On the other hand, Marvan Atapattu was solid as ever and finished day one on 99 as Sri Lanka raced to 246/1 in 51 overs.
On day two, 7th September, Kumar Sangakkara left early and Atapattu was joined by Mahela Jayawardene. They batted freely as ever and scored runs at will. Sri Lanka added an astonishing 190 runs in the first session and reached 436/2 with Atapattu on 197 and Jayawardene on 82. There must have been a plan discussed during the break. Atapattu completed his double hundred and once the over was completed he left the ground and the new batsman entered. It was understood that Atapattu was retired out. He was the first batsman to do so and he later confirmed that he did it due to team management’s instruction to give other batsmen a chance to feast on this bowling.
Jayawardene soon completed his hundred and once he reached 150 did the same thing as Atapattu. He also left the ground and became the second player in the history of the Test cricket to become retired out. By that time Sri Lanka were well past 500 and they finally declared with 555/5 on board, 465 runs ahead of Bangladesh. The run rate was an absurd 5.36 for 103.3 overs.
Next day Bangladesh lost the Test match by an innings and 137 runs despite a brilliant debut hundred by the teen prodigy Mohammad Ashraful.
