Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood expects plenty of uncertainty when his side takes on Bangladesh in the upcoming two-Test series, admitting the visitors will need to adapt quickly to unfamiliar conditions and an opposition they have not faced regularly in recent years. The series begins in Darwin and forms an important part of Australia’s preparations in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle.

While Australia enter the contest as favourites, Hazlewood believes the team cannot rely solely on pre-series analysis and must be prepared to adjust its plans as the matches unfold. The experienced right-arm pacer missed Australia’s previous Test tour of Bangladesh in 2017 and was also unavailable for the team’s white-ball tour earlier this year.

Having played only nine international matches against Bangladesh across all formats, Hazlewood acknowledged that there are still several unknowns heading into the series. Speaking on the Unplayable Podcast, Hazlewood said Australia would have to assess the conditions and opposition in real time rather than sticking rigidly to pre-planned strategies.

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“There’s a lot of unknowns going in. You’ve got the ground, that’s an unknown. The wicket in particular, and the opposition in these conditions. So there are a lot of unknowns, but I think it’s exciting,” Josh Hazlewood said.

He added that while video analysis and statistical trends provide useful insights, success will ultimately depend on making smart decisions on the field.

“There’s definitely footage and we can find some trends against these batters, but it might be a case of summing it up out there and coming up with plans on the run as well, which is always refreshing,” he explained.

Hazlewood is also closing in on a significant personal milestone. The veteran seamer needs just five more wickets to reach 300 Test wickets, a landmark achieved by only a select group of Australian fast bowlers. Despite the achievement being within touching distance, he stressed that Test cricket remains a format built on patience, discipline, and consistent execution.

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“It’s a pretty simple plan. It’s all about execution, and doing it consistently over a long period. Conditions may change during the day or throughout the match, but you always have time to adapt,” Josh Hazlewood said.

With challenging conditions expected and valuable World Test Championship points on offer, Australia will look to combine experience with adaptability as they aim to begin the series against Bangladesh on a winning note.