Last update:November 22, 2024, 12:23 p.m. IST

In 16 matches played so far for Australia in Test cricket against India, 33-year-old Josh Hazlewood is responsible for dismissing 54 Indian batters.

Josh Hazlewood becomes Australia’s most successful pacer in Tests against India. (Photo credit: AP, AFP)

Australia’s star pacer Josh Hazlewood is on fire against India in the ongoing first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. On the first day of the first Test, currently taking place at Optus Stadium in Perth, the 33-year-old pacer has claimed three wickets so far, helping him break Brett Lee’s old record and become the Australia’s most successful point guard. in Tests against India.

During his playing days, Lee dismissed 53 Indian batters in 12 matches, while Hazlewood now has 54 wickets to his name in 29 innings of 16 Tests.

The overall record for most wickets in Tests for Australia against India is in the name of Nathan Lyon, who has got rid of 121 batters in 28 matches so far. The legendary spinner is the all-time leading wicket-taker in India-Australia Tests.

In the list of Australian 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 Stark (50).

Most wickets for Australia in Tests against India

• Nathan Lyon – 121*
• Josh Hazlewood – 54*
• Brett Lee – 53 years old
• Richie Bénaud – 52 years old
• Glenn McGrath – 51 years old
• Pat Cummins – 51*
• Mitchell Johnson – 50 years old
• 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 this, he failed to score any runs and was caught behind by Alex Carey.

There were high expectations from Kohli, who has over 2000 runs to his name in Tests against Australia, but he also didn’t do much and was caught behind by Usman Khawaja after made just five runs off 12 balls.

India lost a total of four batters for 51 runs in the first session of the first day. Besides Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc also picked up two wickets. The star left-arm pacer dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal for an eight-ball duck and then, minutes before lunch, explained the dismissal of Jaiswal’s opening partner KL Rahul.

Rahul, who opened for India in the absence of Rohit Sharma, scored 26 runs off 74 balls with the help of three fours.