Josh Hazlewood has entered an elite chapter of Australian cricket history, becoming the ninth Australian bowler to claim 300 Test wickets. The milestone came during the first Test against Bangladesh in Darwin, where the experienced fast bowler produced a superb five-wicket haul.
Hazlewood reached the landmark in his 26th over of the innings, dismissing Mehidy Hasan Miraz after the Bangladesh allrounder edged an attempted drive behind the wicket. The wicket completed Hazlewood’s 14th five-wicket haul in Test cricket and further underlined his importance to Australia’s bowling attack.
Hazlewood Joins Australian Greats
The 35-year-old now joins an exclusive group featuring some of Australia’s greatest Test bowlers. Nathan Lyon, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc are already members of the 300-wicket club.
Hazlewood’s achievement is particularly significant because Australia now have four bowlers who have each taken at least 300 Test wickets. Lyon, Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood are also the only Test attack in history to have played together after all four members reached the 300-wicket mark.
Among Australia’s nine bowlers with 300 or more Test wickets, Hazlewood’s career bowling average of 24.02 ranks fourth. Only Glenn McGrath, Pat Cummins and Dennis Lillee have achieved the milestone with better averages.
A Remarkable Return After Injury
Hazlewood’s journey to 300 wickets has been far from straightforward. He entered the Bangladesh Test needing only five wickets to reach the landmark but had played just six of Australia’s previous 14 Tests.
The fast bowler had also been out of Test cricket for the previous 12 months because of injury. His last competitive long-format appearance came in the Sheffield Shield before last season’s Ashes, where he suffered another injury setback.
There had even been some discussion over whether Hazlewood or Scott Boland should be selected for Australia’s opening Test against Bangladesh.
Hazlewood answered that question emphatically.
Despite returning to the longest format after a lengthy absence, he delivered the kind of disciplined and accurate bowling that has defined his career. While Australia’s other bowlers found it difficult to consistently break through on a good batting surface, Hazlewood kept applying pressure.
Hazlewood’s Five-Wicket Masterclass
Hazlewood’s route to 300 wickets was built around patience, accuracy and his ability to extract extra bounce from the Darwin surface.
He was unfortunate early in the innings when Nathan Lyon dropped Tanzid Hasan in Hazlewood’s opening over. Tanzid took full advantage of the reprieve and went on to score a century.
Hazlewood eventually broke the important partnership between Tanzid and Mominul Haque, having Mominul caught behind while attempting to drive.
The Australian quick returned with the second new ball and produced another crucial breakthrough. Najmul Hossain Shanto, who had made 84, was dismissed by a superb delivery from around the wicket.
As the Bangladesh lower order continued to resist, Hazlewood once again provided Australia with the breakthrough they needed. He trapped Hasan Mahmud lbw after another long spell in difficult conditions.
Taijul Islam then fell to Hazlewood’s extra bounce, with Cameron Green completing the catch at gully.
Finally, Hazlewood completed his 300th Test wicket when Mehidy Hasan edged behind while attempting to drive.
He then added another wicket by dismissing Ebadot Hossain, completing a six-wicket haul and his first six-wicket innings since 2017.
Also Read-Jemimah Rodrigues Ruled Out of Asia Cup and Asian Games
“You Don’t Really Think About Those Milestones”
Speaking after reaching the landmark, Hazlewood admitted that personal milestones are not something he focuses on while playing.
“You don’t really think about those sort of milestones when you’re playing,” Hazlewood said after reaching 300 wickets.
However, he acknowledged the significance of joining the likes of Lyon, Cummins and Starc.
“Just to see the other names there, and I’m playing with three of them, so yeah, it’s pretty cool,” he said.
The achievement also reflects Hazlewood’s remarkable consistency across more than a decade of international cricket.
The Physical Challenge of Test Cricket
Hazlewood’s return was particularly impressive because this was his first long-format match since his Sheffield Shield injury.
The fast bowler admitted that the physical demands were considerable, especially after spending so long away from Test cricket.
“I’m still standing, that’s good,” Hazlewood joked.
He explained that bowling long spells again takes time to rebuild after an extended injury absence. According to Hazlewood, Australia’s preparation during the previous four or five weeks helped him build the workload required for Test cricket.
That preparation appeared to pay dividends in Darwin, as he continued bowling effectively even as the heat and workload began to test Australia’s attack.
A Major Milestone for Australia’s Bowling Attack
Hazlewood’s achievement adds another remarkable statistic to Australia’s modern bowling era.
Having four bowlers with 300 or more Test wickets in the same attack is unprecedented. Lyon has established himself as one of the most successful offspinners in Test history, while Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood have formed one of the most formidable fast-bowling combinations of the modern era.
For Hazlewood, however, the milestone is more than just a number. It represents his ability to repeatedly return from injuries and maintain an elite level of performance.
At 35, his future in Test cricket will naturally remain a subject of discussion, particularly given his recent injury history. But his performance against Bangladesh showed that when fit, Hazlewood remains capable of producing match-defining spells.
Hazlewood’s Legacy Continues
Reaching 300 Test wickets places Hazlewood alongside some of the most respected names in Australian cricket. His combination of accuracy, movement, bounce and relentless discipline has made him one of the defining fast bowlers of his generation.
His latest performance was a reminder of exactly why he has enjoyed such a successful career.
After missing much of Australia’s recent Test schedule, Hazlewood returned to the side and immediately made history. His 300th wicket was followed by a sixth wicket, giving Australia another outstanding performance from one of their most experienced bowlers.
The milestone may have been achieved quietly, without much attention from Hazlewood himself, but its significance is impossible to ignore.
Josh Hazlewood is now officially a 300-Test wicket bowler — and Australia’s historic quartet of Lyon, Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood has added another extraordinary chapter to the country’s rich Test cricket legacy.