In life, you win some and you lose some; that is the norm. However, one's character is decided by one's spirit and desire to fight, and not giving in. Shabash Bengalees, Bengal Tigers! (the national cricket team). You showed the world that nobody should write us off. Today or tomorrow we will overcome all obstacles. Well done boys, there is always next time as long as you want to compete. We are all proud of your efforts.

B. Sarkar, Los Angeles

Bangladeshi cricketers have shown a new sign of fresh and renewed hope in their encounter with the mighty Australians in the first Test at Fatullah. All the players were roaring in triumph in almost every department of the game and maintained supremacy over the world champions for almost four days of the match. A thrilling maiden century by Nafees, a sizzling 76 from the captain and a near seventy from a cool customer of the game, Razin Saleh, contributed to the big total of 427 and a similarly flamboyant performance by the bowlers pushed the mighty Australians to the wall.

Whatever is the result of the match it is indeed a fabulous performance by our boys and it proved that we are now a much better team. It is a point for jubilation it will boost our faith in us and will gear the morale of the boys in rearing them up higher and higher.

This is the end of our collective inhibition an obsession!

Rafiqul Islam Rime, Agrabad, Chittagong

For many Bangladeshis living in Australia, yesterday for sure was an unusual day in their workplace; as everyone more or less had the similar experience mixed with compliments from their workmates, colleagues or friends for the stunning performance of Bangladesh cricket team against Australia at Fatullah. Living here, at least we know how proud the whole Australia feels about their mighty cricket team!! Here in my university, where most of the happenings in the world can't turn their concentration from research and study, they too have noticed the broad headlines in all the news, and many possibly related that with their few known Bangladeshi faces like us. So our morning tea session in the common room was not an as usual one, like conversations on the progress of research, cold weather etc; even the plan for the Easter break didn't get prominence ...all of the discussion was about the miracle and might shown by Bangladesh cricket team. Well done and thanks to Habibuls for making us feel proud in Australia!

The day before, web based score card by cricinfo was unable to hold my excitement when Bangladesh was reaching its second 400 hundred in a Test match especially when it's none but against the world's best. The ecstasy and joy compelled me to leave my desk in search of a Fox TV around, which was showing the live telecast. Shared joy is double joy, so I knocked other Bangladeshis' rooms nearby. Tapan Sarker who was pinned down in his thesis, but jumped up from his cubicle after hearing the score! Such moments of truth are rare for our motherland, especially for us in foreign land when the streams of bad news are more common .... These accomplishments are nonetheless are an opportunity to celebrate, to regain the spirit of nationalism.

Anyway, we managed to get a Fox TV in the bridge room of sports and recreation centre. The big TV was switched off at that moment, although some people were watching it in the cardio room while cycling and running in treadmill. I put the volume a bit louder and gradually a group of people gathered and, stopped for a while; some were really taken aback looking at the astonishing score. The way people were surrounding by and glared on to TV screen, it seemed like a breaking news of a big disaster. No doubt it was a big disaster and a blow to Aussie pride, as one the headlines called it "PATHETIC." Nonetheless, we not only enjoyed the refreshing performances by our valiant Tigers but also the scowl and the reaction of proud Aussies as well.

"Australia is facing embarrassment in Bangladesh! I don't know what's going on there. May be some mystery" - the radio talk show/news put these questions time and again in the air. "Against Bangladesh?" although sounds a bit awkward in the ear, but for many it was one of the most unexpected saga of the day. Yes, to some extent it's hard to believe, but many possibly didn't notice that the young Tigers were striving hard too in the last few months, specially after a series of bashing from the critics. Many also didn't value the indication by Coach David Whatmore, considering it to be as usual bullying of the typical Bangladeshi coaches in press briefing!!

If wining in Cardiff was an inspiration, then the 1st Test in Fatullah can be named as building confidence for Bangladesh, as a secured Test-playing nation. Consecutively, two days of good performance proves it was just not an accident this time. With this, may be the long carried fuss about the Test status of Bangladesh will come to an end.

When I came back to my office to wind up for the day, received an e-mail from a long lost boyhood friend in the US who was watching the game and having big time there. This also triggered his memory about our good old days and the cricket back home, when we often used to give a miss to tutors without the knowledge of parents and spent the time in fields just for cricket. At that point never it crossed our mind that someday this cricket would uphold our national prestige in international arena...!

Ahmed Imran, Canberra, Australia