Hazlewood joins rare Australia’s fast bowlers club

Australia’s experienced fast bowler Josh Hazlewood became the ninth Australian to take 300 Test wickets on Saturday, reaching the milestone during the first Test against Bangladesh in Darwin. Hazlewood dismissed Mehidy Hasan Miraz for his 300th wicket, completing a six-wicket haul as Bangladesh were bowled out for 426 to take a 228-run first-innings lead. The 35-year-old joined teammates Nathan Lyon, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc in Australia's 300-wicket club. The four are the only Test attack to have played together after each member reached the landmark. Hazlewood began the match five wickets short of 300 after an injury-hit period had restricted him to six of Australia's previous 14 Tests. He had not played a Test for 12 months and faced competition from Scott Boland for a place in the side. He responded with figures of 6-89, his 14th Test five-wicket haul and first six-wicket innings since 2017. Hazlewood had an early setback when Lyon dropped Tanzid Hasan in the opening over. Tanzid went on to score 101, but Hazlewood later dismissed Mominul Haque to break a key partnership. He returned with the second new ball to remove Najmul Hossain Shanto for 84 before claiming Hasan Mahmud and Taijul Islam. His fifth wicket, Mehidy, brought up the 300 mark before he added Ebadot Hossain to complete his six-for. Only Glenn McGrath, Cummins and Dennis Lillee have taken 300 Test wickets for Australia at a better bowling average than Hazlewood's 24.02. "You don't really think about those sorts of milestones when you're playing," Hazlewood said. "But I guess just to see the other names there, and I'm playing with three of them, so yeah, it's pretty cool." Bangladesh's total left Australia under pressure in the Test, with the visitors taking a substantial lead despite Hazlewood's impressive return.