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Zimbabwe was the significantly better side in both Tests in this series. They were exceptionally unlucky to lose both of the last two days of the first Test to the weather. Zimbabwe had amassed a comprehensive first innings lead of 241 runs and needed only seven more Bangladeshi wickets at the end of the third day to claim victory by what looked to be an innings.
The pattern of the game was similar in the second Test when Bangladesh found themselves following on in reply to Zimbabwe's 542 total. Bangladesh ended up losing the second Test by eight wickets.
Zimbabwe's rating has improved by another 4 points to 937 - the highest it has been since March 2000. The Zimbabweans have continued the gradual rehabilitation of their rating following the catastrophic 49-point fall over the twelve months to November 2000. During this horror period they played 13 Tests, losing nine and drawing the remaining four.
This series was the first outing for new Zimbabwean coach Geoff Marsh. Marsh, a distinguished former Australian opener and later a successful coach, took over from another former Australian, Carl Rackermann.
While the Zimbabweans are vastly more experienced than Bangladesh, the Australian relentless pressure tactics that Marsh perfected as Australian coach were evident. Zimbabwe never let up on their opponents.
However, Zimbabwe remains the worst of the established Test nations by a very wide margin of 59 ratings points. The fact that newcomers Bangladesh have not been remotely competitive with Zimbabwe in four Tests this year should be of great concern to the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Bangladesh entered Test cricket with a splash, making 400 in their maiden innings against India one year ago. In their seven Tests they have completed 13 innings for an average of 215 runs per innings.
Conventional wisdom suggests that a team needs to aim for 600 runs and twenty wickets to consistently win Test matches. Bangladesh appears to be almost 200 runs short in the batting department.
The bowers have also been unable to contain their opponents run scoring and have only managed to take an average of 8.6wickets in each Test. That is, less than one full innings per match.
From a ratings perspective, Bangladesh still holds a provisional rating and it is possible they could improve over the remaining three Tests before a full rating is allocated. However, their current provisional rating is the worst rating by any Test team in history. The records for the next lowest ratings by any team are held by New Zealand with 902 points in July 1965 and South Africa with 903 points in November 1902.
If nothing else, the evidence of Bangladesh's Test record should lead the ICC to urgently review their development program for aspiring Test nations. An occasion good performance in the one-day arena does not a Test team make.
A structured 'second tier' of international nations playing four-day first class cricket against each other on a regular basis would be a good starting point. Occasional tours by either the first or second elevens of the established nations to these second tier nations would also benefit world cricket greatly.
Test cricket has to compete in a global sports market. To do this it must grow over time or risk its popularity being overtaken by other sports competing for ticket sales; the financial security that television coverage provides; and the resulting sponsorship dollars that the coverage attracts.
The ICC has, in the last few years, made some advances. However, as custodians of the world game, they have a responsibility to the game to properly prepare potential Test nations and not just sink their millions into aspiring one-day teams. Failure to take heed of this could lead to history being a very harsh judge.
The latest Test cricket ratings are: 1. Australia (1205); 2. South Africa (1154); 3. Pakistan (1061); 4. England (1059); 5. West Indies (1044); 6. India (1020); 7. New Zealand (1001); 8. Sri Lanka (997); 9. Zimbabwe (937); 10. Bangladesh (837 provisional).
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