Darwin, 15 August 2026:
Josh Hazlewood played down his personal milestone after becoming the ninth Australian bowler to take 300 Test wickets, insisting Australia’s fight to stay in the first test against Bangladesh remained his priority after the third day’s play on Saturday.
Hazlewood reached the landmark during Bangladesh’s first innings at Marrara Stadium, where the tourists amassed 426 to establish a commanding 228-run lead.
Talking to the media after the third day’s play, Hazlewood said:
“It was nice to get it,” Hazlewood said of his 300th wicket. “Obviously more important things in the moment … are in the game.”
The veteran fast bowler finished with 6-89 from 28 overs, helping Australia finally dismiss Bangladesh after the visitors had built their imposing total around Tanzid Hasan’s 101, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto’s 84 and Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s 65.
Hazlewood said conditions became increasingly difficult for the fast bowlers once the ball lost its hardness.
“It was a pretty tough slog out there, to be honest,” he said. “Once that ball sort of got soft after … the first eight to 10 overs, you sort of got to cash in as a bowler, and then after that, it’s pretty tough work.”
The 300-wicket landmark puts Hazlewood in elite Australian company. He became only the ninth Australian to reach the mark in Test cricket, adding another significant achievement to a career that has established him as a central figure in Australia’s pace attack.
There was little time for celebration, however.
Australia, bowled out for 198 in its first innings, were 161-4 at stumps and still trailed Bangladesh by 67 runs. Cameron Green was unbeaten on 43 and Alex Carey on 19.
Hasan Mahmud took 2-33 after his six-wicket haul in Australia’s first innings, while Taijul Islam and Mehidy claimed one wicket each. Mehidy’s sharp return catch to dismiss Steve Smith for 44 was a major blow to Australia’s hopes of quickly reducing the deficit.
Hazlewood praised Bangladesh for adapting to the conditions throughout the match.
“I think they’ve bowled very well to the conditions,” he said. “The way Bangladesh went about their bowling just then, it was pretty tight. They didn’t give much away and found a few results.”
Despite Australia’s difficult position, Hazlewood said victory had not been ruled out.
“A win is still definitely in our mind and always is, pretty much,” he said.
Hazlewood believes Australia’s first task on Day 4 is to wipe out the remaining deficit and bat as deeply as possible, giving its bowlers an opportunity to attack Bangladesh on the final day.
“If we can bat deep into tomorrow and potentially even the whole day, maybe, there’s always opportunities to take 10 wickets on the final day if the wicket is a little bit up and down,” he said.
The 35-year-old also reflected on the physical demands of returning to Test cricket and bowling across three consecutive days.
“I’m still standing, that’s good,” Hazlewood joked.
He said Australia’s pace group had handled the workload well, singling out Mitchell Starc and captain Pat Cummins while acknowledging his own execution could have been sharper at times.
Hazlewood also said reaching 300 wickets carried less emotional weight in the middle of a Test match than it might once his career is over.
“You probably think about that a bit more when we’re finished,” he said. “At the moment, you’re literally just taking it as it comes. You’re playing the game in front of you.”
