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In 16 matches played so far for Australia in Test cricket against India, 33-year-old Josh Hazlewood has accounted for the dismissal of 54 Indian batters.
Josh Hazlewood becomes Australia’s most successful pacer in Tests against India. (Picture Credit: AP, AFP)
Star Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood is on fire against India in the ongoing first Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. On the first day of the first Test, which is currently underway at the Optus Stadium in Perth, the 33-year-old pacer has picked up three wickets so far, which has helped him break former Brett Lee’s record and become Australia’s most successful pacer in Tests against India.
During his playing days, Lee dismissed 53 Indian batters in 12 matches, whereas Hazlewood now has 54 wickets to his name in 29 innings of 16 Tests.
The overall record of taking most wickets in Tests for Australia against India is in the name of Nathan Lyon, who has so far gotten rid of 121 batters in 28 matches. The legendary spinner is the all-time leading wicket-taker in India-Australia Tests.
In the list of Aussie bowlers with most Test wickets against India, Lyon, Hazlewood, and Lee are followed by Richie Benaud (52), Glenn McGrath (51), Pat Cummins (50), Mitchell Johnson (50), and Mitchell Starc (50).
Most wickets for Australia in Tests vs India
- Nathan Lyon – 121*
- Josh Hazlewood – 54*
- Brett Lee – 53
- Richie Benaud – 52
- Glenn McGrath – 51
- Pat Cummins – 51*
- Mitchell Johnson – 50
- Mitchell Starc – 50*
In the ongoing match, Hazlewood opened his wicket account by getting rid of Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli in the morning session. Padikkal came out to bat at No. 3 and faced 23 balls during his stay at the crease, but despite that, he failed to score any runs and was caught behind by Alex Carey.
There were high expectations from Kohli, who has more than 2000 runs to his name in Tests against Australia, but he also failed to do much and was caught by Usman Khawaja after making just five runs from 12 balls.
India lost a total of four batters for 51 runs in the first session of the first day’s play. Apart from Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc also picked up two wickets. The star left-arm pacer dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal for an eight-ball duck and then, just a few minutes before lunch, accounted for the dismissal of Jaiswal’s opening partner, KL Rahul.
Rahul, who opened for India in the absence of Rohit Sharma, scored 26 runs from 74 balls with the help of three fours.