Josh Hazlewood takes six wickets against Bangladesh on Test cricket return

Josh Hazlewood made a strong return to Test cricket after more than a year, taking six wickets in Australia’s first innings against Bangladesh in Darwin. He bowled 28 overs and conceded 89 runs, taking two wickets on Day 2 before claiming four more on Saturday. The performance took Hazlewood’s Test wicket tally to 301, making him only the ninth Australian bowler to reach the 300-wicket mark.

Hazlewood also created history by becoming the first Australian fast bowler to take a five-wicket haul against Bangladesh in international cricket. Before his 6/89, Ian Harvey held the best figures by an Australian pacer against Bangladesh. Harvey took 4/16 in an ODI at Darwin in 2003. Hazlewood’s effort has now moved ahead of that mark. However, the overall best bowling performance by an Australian against Bangladesh still belongs to spinner Stuart MacGill, who took 8/108 in a Test at Fatullah in 2006. Nathan Lyon has also recorded three five-wicket hauls against Bangladesh, while Shane Warne has two.

Hazlewood’s six-wicket haul also places him among the leading fast bowlers to perform against Bangladesh in Tests. New Zealand’s Chris Cairns remains at the top with 7/53, while India’s Zaheer Khan also took seven wickets in a Test innings against Bangladesh. For Australia, Mitchell Starc also claimed two wickets in the ongoing Test, taking his career total to 435 Test wickets. He is now the 11th-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket. Hazlewood’s return has therefore been significant not only for Australia’s ongoing Test but also for his place in the country’s bowling history.