“ You never play cricket for personal rewards, but joining the 200 club was pretty special ” – Josh Hazlewood

Fast pitcher Josh Hazlewood has recorded the most economical five-wicket transport by an Australian in the past 73 years, with India decimated to its lowest total – 36 to 9 – in test history on Day 3 of the pink ball test at Adelaide Oval on Saturday (December 19).

Josh Hazlewood scalped Wriddhiman Saha and Ravichandran Ashwin off the fourth and fifth balls of the 19th to become the 18th Australian to reach 200 wickets in test cricket. He could have completed his first hat trick as well, but Umesh Yadav managed to get an inside brim on his pads.

The 29-year-old expressed his disappointment that he did not get the hat-trick, but he looked gleeful about joining the prestigious club.

“It was, it was [a special moment]. I guess you never play cricket for personal rewards, but joining the 200 club was pretty special, ”Josh Hazlewood said on Sony Sports Network.

The New South Wales Boy Credited Pat Cummins to open the valves early in the day. Cummins fired Nightwatchman Jasprit bumrah (2 of 17) and Cheteshwar Pujara (0 of 8) before Josh Hazlewood had five of the next six wickets to drop.

“Everything went as planned. I think the way Pattie started was amazing, flipping the two big wickets kind of set the tone, and one inspired two … Yeah, that’s a lot of fun.

“We’re all really great friends obviously and we’ve played a lot of cricket together now, and seeing other guys take the plunge as well… it’s just great to go out and look to take 20 wickets in every game. So it’s a lot of fun, ”said Josh Hazlewood.

Josh Hazlewood leaves Australia on the brink of 1-0 lead

The lowest total in test cricket in the past 65 years means Australia will now have to chase after a meager 90 points to go 1-0 in the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Matthew wade (14 * out of 17) and Joe burns (0 * off 13) helped the hosts reach 15-0 at the dinner break.

While Virat kohli will return to India after the opening test to witness the birth of her first child, India could also be without Mohammad Shami in the Boxing Day test. The Indian speedster retired injured after being struck flat on the right arm by a Pat Cummins bouncer after the former did not pull away.

Posted on Dec 19, 2020, 12:16 IST