Returning to Test cricket with a commanding performance after an absence exceeding a year, Josh Hazlewood has etched his name into the record books. His exceptional bowling display against Bangladesh in Darwin saw him claim a remarkable six wickets in Australia’s first innings. This phenomenal comeback involved bowling 28 overs, conceding 89 runs, and strategically picking up two crucial wickets on Day 2, followed by an additional four on the subsequent Saturday. This impactful outing propelled Hazlewood’s career Test wicket tally to an impressive 301, firmly establishing him as only the ninth Australian bowler to achieve this significant 300-wicket milestone.
Beyond reaching this personal landmark, Hazlewood also achieved a historic first for Australian cricket. His incredible 6/89 against Bangladesh marked him as the inaugural Australian fast bowler to secure a five-wicket haul against this opponent in international cricket. Prior to this, the best figures by an Australian pacer against Bangladesh belonged to Ian Harvey, who took 4/16 in a One-Day International back in 2003, also held in Darwin. Hazlewood’s stellar effort has now unequivocally surpassed that previous benchmark. While Hazlewood’s performance was exceptional for a fast bowler, the overall best bowling performance by an Australian against Bangladesh in Tests remains with the spinner Stuart MacGill, who famously took 8/108 in Fatullah in 2006. Other notable Australian spinners, Nathan Lyon and Shane Warne, have also had considerable success against Bangladesh, with Lyon boasting three five-wicket hauls and Warne achieving two.
Hazlewood’s six-wicket haul also positions him among the elite fast bowlers globally who have dominated against Bangladesh in Test cricket. New Zealand’s Chris Cairns still holds the top spot with an extraordinary 7/53, and India’s Zaheer Khan also recorded a seven-wicket haul in a Test innings against Bangladesh. Meanwhile, his compatriot Mitchell Starc also made significant contributions in the ongoing Test, securing two wickets and elevating his career total to 435 Test wickets, making him the 11th-highest wicket-taker in the history of Test cricket. Hazlewood’s return, therefore, represents more than just a successful individual outing; it is a crucial contribution to Australia’s current Test campaign and a significant chapter in his enduring legacy within the nation’s illustrious cricketing history.
