Another Test series finished with another clean sweep for the opposing team and Bangladesh were left wondering yet again why their batsmen never

Although a defeat in the second and final Test was not unexpected, the manner in which the home side collapsed in both their innings' is sure to incite the distracters who question Bangladesh's eligibility as a Test playing nation.

But new Bangladesh captain Khaled Mahmud believes that overall it was not all that bad a performance barring the stunning batting debacle on the third day that saw the home side losing 18 wickets.

"I think we have done better in the series considering our disappointing show in the World Cup. We played reasonably well in the TVS Cup. Besides, the top-order fared better in the first Test at Chittagong," said Mahmud while

reflecting on his team's showing in the triangular tournament and the two-match Test series.

Mahmud, who took over from Khaled Mashud after the World Cup, also said that the return of Habibul Bashar among the runs was one of the big positives from the series'.

Bashar scored a half-century against India in the TVS Cup before making back-to-back fifties in the Chittagong Test. The country's top batsman was also involved in two very good partnerships with opener Javed Omar who also showed character.

"But apart from them the rest failed," acknowledged Mahmud adding that the team didn't bat as a unit.

"That was our problem. We couldn't manage to build on the good work of Bashar and Omar," said Mahmud.

While Mahmud was critical of the failure of the middle-order, coach Sarwar Imran went further to question the commitment of the players.

"I think the mental makeup of the players is negative. They feel

happy to score 30 or 40 runs. If you look at the second innings of this Test most of the batsmen were out after settling down in the middle. And in most cases they suffered soft dismissals," Imran said.

He also blamed the players for their lack of ability to carry an innings.

Imran however refused to agree with the notion that Bangladesh has not improved since attaining the Test status in 2000.

"I think we are also improving like the others. Maybe the other teams are improving faster than Bangladesh," said Imran after his last assignment as interim coach.

Bangladesh have signed high profile coach Dav Whatmore, who will take over the national team before Bangladesh's next series away against Australia in July.

Whatmore will make a brief visit to Dhaka next week before getting down to business from June 1. The national cricketers will enjoy a two-week rest before the selectors announce a fresh list of probables for the tour of Australia later this month.