Josh Hazlewood Becomes Ninth Australian Bowler to Reach 300 Test Wickets

Josh Hazlewood achieved a significant milestone by claiming his 300th Test wicket, becoming the ninth Australian bowler to do so. This accomplishment occurred during the first Test against Bangladesh in Darwin, where he also recorded his 14th career five-wicket haul.

With this achievement, Hazlewood joins teammates Nathan Lyon, Pat Cummins, and Mitchell Starc in the exclusive Test-300 club, marking the first time in history that a single Test attack has four bowlers with over 300 wickets each.

“You don’t really think about those sort of milestones when you’re playing,” Hazlewood said in an interview with Kayo Sports after the match. “I guess it’s probably something you look back on at the end. But I guess just to see the other names there, and I’m playing with three of them, so yeah, it’s pretty cool,” he added.

At 35 years old, Hazlewood approached the match needing five wickets to reach the milestone, having played only six of Australia’s last 14 Tests and not participating in the past year due to injury. His inclusion in the starting lineup was debated among selectors, with Scott Boland also in contention for the opening Test.

Throughout the match, Hazlewood demonstrated his skill as other Australian bowlers struggled against a resolute Bangladesh batting lineup. In his first over, he saw a catch dropped by Lyon that proved costly, allowing Tanzid Hasan to score 101 after being reprieved on 0. Hazlewood broke a key partnership on the second morning by dismissing Mominul Haque, who was caught behind attempting to drive.

Returning with the second new ball, he dismissed Najmul Hossain Shanto for 84 with a well-placed delivery from around the wicket. On day three, as Australia faced the heat, Hazlewood ended Hasan Mahmud’s resistance, trapping him lbw after another lbw decision against Mehidy Miraz Hasan was overturned on review. Cameron Green later caught Taijul Islam’s leading edge in the gully, contributing to Hazlewood’s fifth wicket.

Hazlewood reached the 300-wicket milestone in his 26th over when Mehidy edged a drive behind. He concluded the innings with his first six-wicket haul in nine years by dismissing Ebadot Hossain.

Reflecting on the match, Hazlewood remarked, “They hung in there tough. Yeah, it’s pretty hard work out there on that track. We probably stuck it out, we didn’t let the runs flow too quickly there at the end. It was just that Bangladesh hung in there nice and tough, and it was tough to get wickets out there, so it was a good effort.”

Special Credits: Image Courtesy of Espn