Until that momentous occasion Bangladesh, a Test-playing nation for four years and two months, had played 34 Tests but of them 31 ended in defeat and there were only three draws (two by the forces of nature against Zimbabwe!).

The 226-run victory over the Zimbabweans in the first Test meant Bangladesh, who played their Inaugural Test on November 10 against India in Dhaka, had moved straight into ninth place in the 10-team Ivy League ahead New Zealand. Not bad considering the fact while New Zealanders required 45 Tests and 26 years to earn their win in the longer-version of the game, The Tigers' achievement came in 10 fewer Tests.

We now need to piecemeal how long it took each country to post their first Test win.

Australia had the honour of winning the first-ever Test in 1877 whey beat England by 45 runs at the MCG.

Barring Australian opener Charles Bannerman (165 retired hurt) becoming the first ever Test centurion, the game's oldest rivals were involved in a low-scoring affair that was dominated by bowlers.

After the home side chose correctly they made a modest 245 in their first innings. Bannerman single-handedly carried the Australians with a 265-ball knock that included 18 glorious fours at one of the world's premier venues.

England were dismissed for 196 with Midwinter capturing the first-ever fiver (5-78). And although Australia were restricted to 104 following Shaw's 5-38, the target of 154 proved too much for the Englishmen who crashed to 108 in the face of Kendall sensational 7-55.

England however hit back in the second Test defeating their arch-rivals by four wickets. Australia paid the price for conceding a 139-run first innings lead to their rivals who stormed to victory and level the historic series. For once Bannerman could not rescue the hosts in either essay. Batting first Australia made 122 and England replied with 261 thanks to Ulyet's half-century. The hosts made an improved 259 but the visitors reached the 121-run target thanks to another important contribution by Ulyett (63).

Pakistan also had the privilege to win a Test in just their second match when another rivalry in Asia began with an innings and 43 runs in 1952. Pakistan roared back from losing their Inaugural Test against their neighbours with pace great Fazal Mahmood wrecking the home side twice; first with 5-52 in India's 106 all out. Then he bagged seven wickets to rout India again for 182.

West Indies won their first-ever Test at the sixth attempt when they defeated Australia by 30 runs at SCG in 1931. Riding two centuries by Martin (123) and the great George Headley (105) and Grant's 62, the Caribbean cricketers piled up a massive 350-6. In response, cricket's co-founders managed 224 with the legendary Sir Donald Bradman making a pale 43. The Australians faired no better in pursuit of 251 as they stumbled to 220 all out after The Don fell for a rare 11-ball duck.

Zimbabwe needed 11 Tests to post their first win at the Harare Sports Club ground when they trounced Pakistan by an innings and 64 runs. Zimbabwe blossomed with the Flower brothers Grant and Andy cracking 201 (not out) and 156 respectively to build a formidable total of 544-4. Guy Whittall chipped in 113. Despite three half-centuries by Aamir Sohail, Ijaz Ahmed and Inzamamul Haq, Pakistan fell 22-runs short of avoiding the follow-on. The visitors crashed to 158 all out in the second innings with Inzamam making another Test fifty.

South Africa needed exactly a dozen matches before opening their account with an exciting one-wicket win over England at the Old Wanderers in 1906. In a game of fluctuating fortunes the South Africans reached their daunting 284-run target with one wicket spare.

Sri Lanka required one more game than South Africa for their maiden Test victory when beat India by 149 runs at the P Saravanamuttu Stadium in 1985. The Lankans never looked back after amassing 385 in their first innings thanks to S Silva's 111, Roy Dias' 95, Rangan Madugalle (54) and Dileep Mendis with 51. Indian bowlers Chetan Sharma and Ravi Shastri shared eight wickets. The fancied Indians toiled before reaching 244. Notable contributors were Srikanth (64), legendary Sunil Gavaskar 52 and fellow World Cupper Jimmy Amarnath with 60. Lankan paceman Ravi Ratnaye bagged nine wickets in the match. India were set a victory target of 348 after Sri Lanka declared on 206-3. It was beyond their reach and the mighty Indians were bowled out for 198.

India's biggest moment came in their 25th Test, which was also their first meeting with debutants Pakistan, in 1952. India's long 20-year wait for victory had a sweet ending when they inflicted a convincing innings and 70 run defeat on Pakistan. India showed their experience winning the toss and scoring 372. Vijay Hazare with 76 and Adikari (81) top-scored.

Pakistan's paltry 150 owed much to Hanif Mohammad's 51. Great left-arm spinner merchant Mankad snared eight wickets. The same bowler destroyed their second innings with 5-79 as the Pakistanis limped to 152.

New Zealand had to wait more than quarter of a century to celebrate an elusive Test victory when they beat West Indies by 190 runs at Eden Park. They made the most of West Indies' batting failures to execute a big victory on home soil. Electing to bat, New Zealand made 255 with captain John Reid hitting highest 84 before being dismissed hit wicket. The Windies suffered in both innings especially after a superstar in the making by the name of Gary Sobers had a miserable time with bat.

FACT BOX
The following graph depicts the first Test triumphs for all the Test playing countries:
Country	First Test	First Test Win	Test	Opponents	Venue
Australia	March 1877	March 19,1877	1st	England	Melbourne
England	March 1877	April 4,1877	2nd	Australia	Melbourne
Pakistan	Oct 1952	Oct 26,1952	2nd	India	Lucknow
West Indies	June 1928	Feb 26,1930	6th	England	Georgetown
Zimbabwe	Oct 1992	Feb 5,1995	11th	Pakistan	Harare
South Africa	March 1889	Jan 4,1906	12th	England	Johannesburg
Sri Lanka	Feb 1982	Sept 11,1985	14th	India	Colombo, PSS
India	June 1932	Feb 10,1952	25th	England	Madras
Bangladesh	Nov 2000	Jan 10, 2005	35th	Zimbabwe	Chittagong
New Zealand	Jan 1930	March 13,1956	45th	West Indies	Auckland

Source: CricInfo