Australian new-ball pair Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood entered the history books to become the first-ever Aussie new-ball pairing to bag 400 Test wickets. The two achieved this remarkable feat on Day 1 of the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy test against India at Perth Stadium on Friday.
Early Breakthroughs Leave India Struggling
The dynamic bowling duo did not waste much time and struck early, leaving India’s top order in disarray. Starc made an early impact by sending the career opener Yashasvi Jaiswal back in his third over for a duck. Hazlewood followed quickly by getting debutant Devdutt Padikkal back to the pavilion without scoring, setting India back at the start of the high-stakes encounter.
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Mitchell Starc’s Impressive Record
Starc, who played his first Test in 2011, now has taken 358 wickets in Test cricket with a striking average of 27.74. This puts him at the fourth place on the list of most wicket-takers for Australia, and as a fast bowler, he leaves only the great Glenn McGrath ahead of him. He remains one of the most influential players of Australia’s pace strike-force for that perfect new ball bowling.
Consistency And Success Of Hazlewood
Hazlewood entered Test cricket in 2014. He has taken 273 wickets from 70 matches at an average of 24.82. Maintaining a tight line and returning regularly has made him one of the valuable wicket takers among all the bowling units in Australia, particularly in difficult conditions.
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The threatening Trio: Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins
Together, Starc and Hazlewood have played in 54 Tests, forming a formidable trio alongside Pat Cummins, who leads the team. This trio was key to Australia’s victory in the 2023 World Test Championship final, where they showcased their mastery in high-pressure situations and continued their dominance with the ball against some of the world’s best batting sides.
