News
Josh Hazlewood recalls India’s 36 all-out during pink-ball Test of BGT 2020-21
By SMCS - Dec 4, 2024 8:00 am
Views 7

Australian pace bowler Josh Hazlewood recalled his incredible five-wicket haul during India’s shocking 36 all-out the last time the two teams met in a pink-ball Test at Adelaide in 2020-21. As the two teams are all set to battle each other in a day-night encounter in Adelaide in the second Test, memories of that day in Indian cricket have been doing the rounds.

Team India
Team India

Reflecting on that innings and his five-wicket haul, Hazlewood told cricket.com.au: “I remember coming on as the first change. They just kept nicking everything. I didn’t really plan it. I was just trying to hit the length. We were off to a good start – they were 3 for 15 – so I was trying to apply the pressure and keep it going, not trying to do anything fancy, just hitting the line and length.”

ALSO READ: “Shubman’s captaincy is very good” – Ravi Bishnoi on Shubman Gill

“They were a couple of wickets down overnight, and I don’t think I bowled that night. Then we came back the next day- it’s the toughest time to bowl when you’re in the second innings and they’ve got a lead, so you’re trying to attack and take wickets, while not leaking runs. It’s a tough little period of bowling, so I guess things just fell into place that way,” he again added.

He dismissed Mayank Agarwal, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha, and Ravichandran Ashwin in his five-over spell.

Ajinkya Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane is playing a dependable knock

“Rahane was a pretty big wicket in that series, particularly in Australia. He’s a good player. It was the fifth ball of the first over, so I wasn’t trying to do anything special. The pink ball was doing enough on it’s own. (Ashwin’s wicket) It wasn’t a big nick, but there was definitely a noise. That was my 200th wicket – a very fine nick. I guess I was on a hat-trick, so I celebrated that one a bit more,” said Hazlewood.

ALSO READ: Hardik Pandya shares happiness after winning back the love of fans

“(Vihari’s wicket) It was the sort of situation where a batter was batting with the tail. At that stage, even though they had only scored 80-odd runs (lead), if the recognized batter gets on a roll with the strike, the innings can drag out. So, it’s always good to get the established batter out and leave two tail-enders together,” Josh Hazlewood concluded.