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Sri Lanka had won a record nine consecutive Tests before touring England in June for a three Test series and crashing to a 2-0 defeat.
Upon their return to their home pitches, the full strength Sri Lankan Test team defeated Bangladesh by an innings and 196 runs in the first Test. The selectors then rested nine players and, what was effectively an 'A' Team, slaughtered the tourists by 288 runs.
Sri Lanka has lifted their rating to 1041 points as a result of this series. While they have recovered half the points they lost to England during their last series, Sri Lanka remains in fifth place.
Sri Lanka's series whitewash was always going to be the most likely result against Bangladesh. The Sri Lankan selectors were even prepared to gamble in the second Test with a severely under strength side.
The 'gamble', however, was a very safe bet. Bangladesh has now played thirteen Tests and has an absolutely appalling record. A record that is far and away the worst of any nation beginning their Test cricket career.
Bangladesh has been walloped in twelve of their thirteen Tests. The margin has been by more than an innings eight times; eight wickets or more three times; and now by nearly 300 runs in this series.
The only Test Bangladesh has not lost was against Zimbabwe. That Test was drawn when, facing yet another innings defeat, rain prevented any play on the final two days.
Bangladesh has never bowled an opposing side out twice. Principally because their batsmen have seldom ever made more than two hundred runs in an innings. With that record, the opposition has seldom had to bat twice.
Bangladesh equalled the worst beginning to a Test career that was made by South Africa. In the South African's first ten Test from 1889 to 1902, South Africa also managed only one draw. However, by South Africa's sixteenth Test, they had won four Tests and their first series against England.
Bangladesh's rating has dropped another eight points to 831 points. They hold the record for the worst rating by any nation in history. The previous record was set by New Zealand in 1965 with 902 points.
Bangladesh shows no signs of having improved since their debut Test in November 1999 against India. It is hard to imagine that they will win a Test in the foreseeable future.
This might not be such a problem but that every nation is required to play them on a regular basis over five years. Imagine what is going to happen in South Africa in October or mid 2003 in northern Australia!
The last twelve months has provided the most one-sided Test cricket in history. Apart from the Asian Test Championship, there have been eight series white washes out of 21 series - including six series white washes in a row.
It is with enormous relief that Kenya was recently refused admission to the Test arena. While Kenya would only have offered genuine competition to Bangladesh, admission now would have further devalued Test cricket. Eventually, devaluation in the quality of cricket will affect the money being offered to telecast the games.
All of this is further evidence that the International Cricket Council needs to immediately set in place a genuine development program to help aspiring nations prepare for five-day matches rather than just one-day games. Bangladesh's complete inability to last beyond three days during nearly all of their Tests to date is proof of this.
The latest Test cricket ratings are: 1. Australia (1216); 2. South Africa (1133); 3. Pakistan (1079); 4. England (1062); 5. Sri Lanka (1041); 6. India (1029); 7. New Zealand (1025); 8. West Indies (1009); 9. Zimbabwe (911); 10. Bangladesh (831).
