Bangladesh clinched a commanding 2-0 Test series victory over Ireland, underscoring the gulf between a team accustomed to long-format cricket and one still carving its place on the international stage.
For Ireland, opportunities are still a luxury; for Bangladesh, milestones are a testament to endurance and experience.
The second Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur was particularly special for Bangladesh, as stalwart Mushfiqur Rahim reached the historic milestone of 100 Test caps.
Ireland captain Andy Balbirnie, witnessing the celebrations first-hand, admitted that such an achievement remains a distant dream for his team.
"You just have to look at someone like Mushfiqur, who played his 100th Test match this week. His first Test was in 2005. That's 20 years. For one of our players to reach 100 caps, they'd probably have to play for 50 years," Balbirnie said candidly.
Ireland, who made their Test debut in 2018, have played just 12 Tests in over seven years. Their absence from the ICC World Test Championship and irregular fixtures means that milestones like Mushfiqur's remain far-fetched for Irish players.
Balbirnie reflected on Mushfiqur's longevity and the competitiveness of Bangladesh cricket today.
"Mushfiqur is a good example of someone who was there in 2005 when it was probably quite tough as a Bangladesh Test cricketer, and now they are as competitive as anyone in their own conditions," he said.
Despite the series loss, Balbirnie found positives in Ireland's fight, particularly in the batting resilience shown by Curtis Campher. The all-rounder battled through 259 deliveries for an unbeaten 71, shepherding the tail and keeping Ireland alive for nearly 60 overs on the final day.
"If he gets into his bubble, he's very hard to get out and he works incredibly hard. He's got such a strong defence, and he showed today that when he puts his mind to it, he can do it," Balbirnie said.
"It's just a shame that no one in the top or middle order could hang around long enough with him. But we asked the group to show some fight, and they did -- lasting until just before tea on the fifth day despite being behind the game."
Balbirnie acknowledged Bangladesh's superiority but remained proud of his team's resilience.
"Bangladesh deserved to win the series 2-0. But we're very proud of how we've gone about our business," he concluded.