Josh Hazlewood makes Australian Test history, joins elite club with 300th wicket

Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood etched his name into the annals of Australian cricketing history on Saturday, becoming only the ninth Australian bowler to achieve the remarkable feat of 300 wickets in Test cricket. This significant milestone was reached during the thrilling first Test match against Bangladesh in Darwin, a testament to Hazlewood’s enduring skill and consistency on the international stage.

The achievement was not merely a standalone record; Hazlewood also secured his fourteenth five-wicket haul in Test cricket during the same match, further solidifying his reputation as a formidable force with the ball. This places him in an exclusive club of Australian bowling legends, sharing company with contemporary stars like Nathan Lyon, Pat Cummins, and Mitchell Starc, all of whom have surpassed the 300-wicket mark.

Perhaps even more astonishingly, Hazlewood’s 300th wicket marks an unprecedented moment in Australian Test cricket. For the first time in the nation’s rich cricketing history, Australia now boasts four active bowlers within their current playing squad who have each individually achieved at least 300 Test wickets. This unparalleled collective achievement highlights the depth and quality of Australia’s current bowling attack, setting a new benchmark that no other Test-playing nation has ever matched.

At 34 years old, Hazlewood has maintained an impressive career bowling average of 24.02 throughout his journey to 300 wickets. This places him in an elite category among Australia’s top nine 300-wicket takers, with only three legendary bowlers boasting superior figures: Glenn McGrath (21.64), Pat Cummins (22.21), and Dennis Lillee (23.92), according to statistics from Cricinfo. Such an average underscores his ability to consistently take wickets while maintaining tight control.

Hazlewood’s landmark moment was intertwined with another exceptional performance. On the third day of the Test, he single-handedly claimed all four wickets that fell after the lunch break, culminating in a superb return of six wickets in Bangladesh’s first innings. He broke a stubborn resistance from Bangladesh by dismissing Mehidy Hasan Miraz, before taking the crucial wicket of Ebadot Hossain, which not only completed his 300th Test wicket but also secured his fourteenth five-wicket haul.

Despite Hazlewood’s heroics, Bangladesh managed to post a formidable total of 426 runs, establishing a commanding 228-run first-innings lead over Australia. Their innings was anchored by a maiden Test century from Tanzid Hasan, ably supported by half-centuries from captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mehidy, who then showcased his resilience by batting for nearly 50 overs with the lower order, extending Bangladesh’s advantage significantly.

This impressive batting display from Bangladesh followed an equally dominant bowling performance earlier in the match, where Hasan Mahmud claimed six wickets, putting his team in a strong position from the outset. Australia’s cause was not helped by their fielding, as they dropped five catches, allowing Bangladesh’s lower order to contribute valuable runs and further solidify their lead.

The overall context of the match saw Bangladesh in a commanding position, a remarkable turnaround given their heavy defeat to a Cricket Australia XI in their tour game prior to arriving in Darwin. However, for Josh Hazlewood, the third day of the Test was undeniably a personal triumph, further cementing his status as one of Australia’s finest fast bowlers. His inclusion in the 300-wicket club places him alongside the nation’s greatest cricketing icons, while his consistent tally of fourteen five-wicket hauls is a testament to his unwavering dedication and skill throughout his illustrious Test career.