Any talk of New Zealand not taking the first Test against Bangladesh seriously is “rubbish”, former captain Stephen Fleming has said. Fleming congratulated Bangladesh on their historic eight-wicket victory in the first Test in Mount Maunganui, which marked the first time that the team had won any Test match in New Zealand.

“Any talk of @BLACKCAPS taking this test match lightly is rubbish. @BCBtigers won a nice toss and played a great test. Congratulations to @BCBtigers and staff on making history. Really looking forward to the second test,” said Fleming in a tweet on Wednesday.

The reigning World Test Championship winners fell to a stunning eight-wicket loss on Wednesday with Bangladesh pacer Ebadot Hossain taking six wickets in the second innings.

Any talk of @BLACKCAPS taking this test match lightly is rubbish. @BCBtigers won a nice toss and played a great test. Congratulations to @BCBtigers and staff on making history. Really looking forward to the second test.

— Stephen Fleming (@SPFleming7) January 5, 2022

Bangladesh have been touring New Zealand since 2001. They had played 32 matches across all formats before the Test in Mount Maunganui and lost all of them. The victory in the New Year’s Test is also their first-ever win over New Zealand in the longest format of the game in 16 attempts.

Bangladesh have also become the first Asian side to beat New Zealand in New Zealand in Tests since Pakistan’s 10-wicket victory in Hamilton in January 2011.

Riding on Ebadot Hossain’s 6-wicket haul in the 2nd innings and a collective batting effort in the first innings, Bangladesh cruised to victory in the first session on Day 5. Despite the absence of their No. 1 all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, the Asian side punched above their weight for a memorable victory.