Australia's bowling woes persist despite Hazlewood's milestone

Even as Josh Hazlewood celebrated the rare feat of 300 Test wickets, the Australian side continued to show signs of fragility in the current Test against Bangladesh in Darwin. Hazlewood’s six‑for‑89 in the first innings was a bright spot, yet the team’s overall bowling performance struggled to contain a confident Bangladeshi lineup.

Australia were bowled out for 198 in their first innings, with only Steve Smith reaching a half‑century (71). Bangladesh’s Hasan Mahmud claimed six wickets, exploiting the lack of penetration from the Australian attack beyond Hazlewood’s spell.

In response, Bangladesh piled up 426 runs, powered by a century from Tanzid Hasan (101) and substantial contributions from Najmul Hasan Shanto (84) and Mehdi Hasan Miraz (65). The sizeable lead of 228 runs put Australia under pressure, and the second innings quickly unraveled. After 27 overs they were 100 for 3, with Smith on 37 and Cameron Green dismissed for nine.

Hazlewood’s personal record – 301 wickets from 144 innings – now sits alongside the likes of Warne, Lyon and McGrath. However, the broader picture suggests that Australia must address both pace depth and batting resilience if they are to compete effectively in the series.

The upcoming days will test whether the experience of bowlers like Hazlewood, Starc and Cummins can stem the tide of Bangladesh’s momentum and reverse the current downward trend.