As Najmul Hossain Shanto walked out of the press conference, a journalist remarked with a smile, “Only Bradman and George Headley are above you.” The Bangladesh Test captain blushed, responding modestly, “My career has only just begun…” Yet the numbers paint a far bigger picture than his reserved tone suggests.
In Test cricket, only two legends have a higher fifty-to-century conversion rate than Najmul. Out of 38 Tests, he has crossed fifty 13 times and converted eight of those into centuries—an impressive 61.54 percent. This statistic places him alongside elite company: the great George Headley of the West Indies and the incomparable Sir Don Bradman.
Headley turned 10 out of his 15 fifty-plus scores into centuries (66.67 percent). Bradman, meanwhile, remains unmatched with a conversion rate of 69.05 percent—statistically one of the most astonishing feats in cricket history.
But Najmul insists he doesn’t obsess over milestones. After the first Test win against Ireland in Sylhet, he said, “I don’t think about conversions. Once I’m settled, I simply try to make a big contribution for the team.”
He admits he feels uneasy hearing so much praise so early. “I’ve only played 38 matches. I’m not used to hearing these big compliments. Mushfiq bhai has already played 99 Tests. If I can stay consistent after 100–150 matches, only then I’ll feel I’ve finished my career well.”
As captain too, Najmul has excelled: four of his eight centuries have come under his leadership. Among Bangladesh captains, only Mushfiqur Rahim has more centuries—and he has batted in more than twice as many innings.
Najmul’s philosophy remains simple. “When I bat, I bat as a batsman. I never think I’m batting as a captain. My focus is on contributing with the bat. Only when I’m fielding or off the field do I switch into captaincy responsibilities.”