Hazlewood's 300th Test Wicket: A Milestone That Nearly Didn't Happen

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-08-16

Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood reached 300 Test wickets on 15 August 2026, becoming the ninth Australian and 42nd bowler in cricket history to achieve this milestone. The landmark moment came on the third day of the first Test against Bangladesh at Marrara Stadium in Darwin, when Mehidy Hasan Miraz edged one to wicketkeeper Alex Carey. ### A Comeback for the Ages Hazlewood's journey to this milestone was anything but smooth. Before the Darwin Test, he had played only six of Australia's previous 14 Tests, sidelined for 12 months with an Achilles injury that ruled him out of the entire Ashes series. His spot in the starting eleven was not guaranteed—Captain Pat Cummins faced a tough call picking Hazlewood over fellow bowler Scott Boland. But the team management had faith in Hazlewood's long-term record and his "metronomic" accuracy. That faith paid off spectacularly. Hazlewood needed five wickets to reach the 300 mark, and he delivered an all-round dominant performance, taking 6 wickets for 89 runs. This performance also marked his 14th five-wicket haul in Test cricket. He claimed the final wicket of the Bangladesh innings when he bowled out Ebadot Hossain, finishing with a career tally of 301 wickets. ### An Elite Club of Australian Legends Hazlewood now stands alongside legends such as Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, and Dennis Lillee. Here's a look at Australia's top Test wicket-takers: - Shane Warne: 708 wickets in 145 matches - Nathan Lyon: 568 wickets in 129 matches - Glenn McGrath: 536 wickets in 124 matches - Mitchell Starc: 435 wickets in 89 matches - Dennis Lillee: 355 wickets in 70 matches - Pat Cummins: 316 wickets in 62 matches - Mitchell Johnson: 313 wickets in 73 matches - Brett Lee: 310 wickets in 76 matches - Josh Hazlewood: 301 wickets in 76 matches Australia now holds the record for the only Test side in history to field a bowling attack where all four members have 300 or more wickets. Hazlewood joins current teammates Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, and captain Pat Cummins in this exclusive club. This quartet is statistically the most successful "four-pronged" attack the game has ever seen. ### What This Means for Australia Despite Hazlewood's milestone, Australia find themselves trailing in the series. Bangladesh scored a massive 426 in their first innings, with Tanzid Hasan making 101, Najmul Hossain Shanto 84, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz 65. Australia struggled in their first innings, collapsing to 198, leaving them 228 runs short. At the end of Day 3, Australia were 161/4 in their second innings, still 67 runs behind. Cameron Green and Alex Carey remained not out. Hazlewood noted the pitch was showing signs of variable bounce, which could help Australian bowlers on the final day. However, Australia were all out on Day 4, making 284 runs, and Bangladesh only need 57 runs to win the first Test. ### The Road Ahead Hazlewood's achievement is a testament to his resilience and skill. "It's special to join such an elite group," he said after the match. "But the job isn't done yet. We're still fighting for a win here." His return to form adds depth to Australia's bowling attack, and his experience will be crucial in the remainder of the series. For cricket fans, this milestone is a reminder of the enduring quality of Australian fast bowling. Hazlewood's journey from Under-19s to 300 Test scalps is an inspiration, proving that dedication and hard work can overcome even the toughest setbacks.