Bangladesh, the tenth and youngest member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) is already on its first ever tour of Zimbabwe and to play its first ever, away Test series. Bangladesh was granted full membership of the ICC, making them a Test playing nation on June 26, 2000. Later Bangladesh lost its inaugural Test match to India at Dhaka by 9 wickets in November last year despite there creditable performance of scoring 400 runs in the first innings. On the current tour of Zimbabwe the visitors have already been clean swept 0-3 in the One-day International series. The ODI series is to be followed by two Test matches at Bulawayo and Harare respectively. The occasion of Bangladesh's first ever away Test series provides a good opportunity to review all the earlier played first ever series by the remaining nine Test playing countries in cricket history.

England's first away series in Australia - 1876-77
England's first away series was the inaugural series of Test cricket. James Lillywhite captained the tourists and DW Gregory led Australia.

Australia won the first ever Test match at Melbourne held from 15-19 March 1877 by 45 runs. England avenged their defeat in the return match at the same venue by 4 wickets only two weeks later. Australian Charles Bannerman (165 retired) scored Test crickets' first century.

Australia's first away series in England - 1880
Just one Test match was played in Australia's first away series at the Oval in 1880. Dr WG Grace became the first Englishman to score a test century (152), the second ever in test cricket, which helped England score 420 in the first innings. Australia replied with 149 and following-on (the first such instance in test cricket) scored 327. Australian captain WL Murdoch, who later also represented the mother country scored an unbeaten 153. Left with only 57 runs to win England succeeded but lost five wickets in the process. Lord Harris led England in the match.

South Africa's first away series in England - 1907
After being granted full Test status, South Africa visited England for the first away series in 1907. England won the low scoring Headingley Test by 53 runs. Colin Blythe, rated as one of the deadliest slow left-arm bowlers of all times, captured 15 wickets for 99. The Test matches at Lords and The Oval were drawn. South African skipper PW Sherwell scored 5 at Lords while the famous CB Fry notched up 129 at The Oval. RE Foster led the home team in the series.

West Indies first away series in England - 1928
The West Indies was elected as full member of the ICC, the then Imperial Cricket Conference (founded in 1909) along with New Zealand and India on 31st May 1926. The inaugural Test series was played by the West Indies in its first away series in England in 1928.

RK Nunes let the tourists while APF Chapman led the home team. The Tests were played over three days and England won all three by an innings. Ernest Tyldesley (122) made his first century of the series at Lords. Alfred Percy Freeman, renowned as 'Tich' took five wickets in each innings at the Old Trafford and Sir John Berry Hobbs scored 159 at The Oval.

New Zealand first away series in England - 1931
Tom Lowry took the first test playing New Zealand team to England in 1931. DR Jardine led England. England won the second Test match at the Oval by an innings and 26 runs, while the first Test match at Lords and the third at Old Trafford were drawn. Herbert Sutcliffe, Duleepsinhji, Walter Hammond, LEG Ames, GOB Allen, CS Dempster and ML Page all scored hundreds in the series.

India's first away series in England - 1932
Led by CK Nayudu India played its inaugural Test match during their first away series in England in 1932. DR Jardine led the home team to win the only Test of the series played at Lords by 158 runs. Mohammad Nissar (5/93) and M Jahangir Khan (4/60) were the most successful Indian bowlers of the two innings.

Pakistan's first away series in India - 1952-53
Pakistan was granted full membership of the ICC on 28th July 1952. AH Kardar led Pakistan in its inaugural and first away series to India in 1952-53. Lala Amarnath led India. Pakistan lost the first Test match at New Delhi by an innings and 70 runs but soon avenged this defeat in the second Test by an innings margin at Lucknow. Nazar Mohammad carried his bat for 124 while Fazal Mahmood claimed 12/94. VS Hazare (146*) and PR Umrigar (102) scored hundreds, which enabled India to win the third Test match at Bombay by 10 wickets. The remaining two Test matches at Calcutta and Madras were drawn. 17 year old Hanif Mohammad scored 287 while Fazal Mahmood claimed 20 wickets, in the series.

Sri Lanka's first away series in Pakistan - 1982
Sri Lanka was elected as full member of the ICC on 21st July 1981. B Warnapura led Sri Lanka on their first away series to Pakistan in 1982. They lost the first match of the series at Karachi by 204 runs but narrowly missed victory in the second at Faisalabad and finally lost the third at Lahore by an innings and 102 runs. Sidath Wettimuny (157) earned the distinction of scoring the first Test hundred for his country, at Faisalabad. Roy Dias scored a superb 109 at Lahore. Imran Khan returned with the best bowling analysis in a match in all tests with figures of 14 for 116 at Lahore. Haroon Rashid, Saleem Malik, Mohsin Khan, and Zaheer Abbas all slammed hundreds for the home team. Sri Lanka lost the series 0-2. Sri Lanka also lost the One-day Internationals series by 1-2 during this tour. Pakistan won the two matches at Karachi by 8 and 5 wickets respectively and the visitors won at Lahore on a better-run rate.

Zimbabwe's first away series in India - 1992-93
Zimbabwe was admitted to the ICC on the10th July 1991 as a full member. DL Houghton led Zimbabwe on its first away series to India in 1992-93. Mohammad Azharuddin led the home team. India won the lone Test match of the series at New Delhi by an innings and 13 runs. India amassed 536/7 and declared (VG Kambli 227*). Zimbabwe scored 322 and 201 on their turn. Anil Kumble claimed 8/160 (3/90 & 5 for 70) in the match. Andy Flower scored 115 and 62.

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