Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood recalled India’s 36-all out disaster ahead of the second Test of ongoing Test series in Adelaide. Recalling the 2020 pink-ball Test, Josh Hazlewood said that he was trying to hit the right areas to put pressure on the batters and not do anything fancy.
Premier Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood walked down memory lane and recalled the Adelaide Test from 2022 when the hosts bundled out India for just 36 in the pink-ball Test. The star paceman Josh Hazlewood claimed a five-wicket haul and broke India’s back in the series opener as Australia went on to win the match by eight wickets. The Aussie pace troika hit the right areas to cause trouble for the Indian batters, who kept nicking the ball behind the stumps to run riot with the pink ball.
Notably, India and Australia are all set to lock horns in a day/night Test at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide beginning from Friday, December 06. The Indian team doesn’t have happy memories heading into the pink ball Test as they were bundled out for just 36 in their last outing at the venue.
Team India let go of Adelaide Test during BGT 2020-21 due to dismal 36 all out in second innings
Having taken a 53-run lead in the first innings, India were in a good position in the Test match. However, all of their advantage was diminished courtesy of a phenomenal spell by the Australian seam duo of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood who ran through their batting order on Day 3. Cummins picked up 4/21 in 10.2 overs while Josh Hazlewood picked up 5/8 in five overs to inflict the ignominy of the lowest Test score registered by India in their Test history. India’s 36 all out continues to be the lowest score in the last 69 years of Test cricket.
Recalling the 2020 pink-ball Test, Josh Hazlewood said that he was trying to hit the right areas to put pressure on the batters and not do anything fancy. Recently, Josh Hazlewood recalled his marvelous spell and said that Indian batters kept on nicking everything and he was trying to hit his length.
Josh Hazlewood recalls India’s 36 all-out during pink-ball Test of BGT 2020-21
Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood recalled his incredible five-wicket haul during India’s dismal 36 all-out the last time the two teams met in a pink-ball Test at Adelaide in 2020-21. As the two teams get set to battle each other in a day-night encounter in Adelaide in the second Test of the ongoing series, memories of the infamous day in Indian cricket have been doing the rounds.
The pink-ball Test in Adelaide was the series opener in 2020-21 and the visitors began strong with a 53-run lead in the first innings. However, things went downhill in a remarkable second innings as they were bowled out for their lowest-ever Test score of 36 in 21.2 overs.
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.”
He added:
“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.
India’s stunning collapse left Australia with a target of only 90 and they completed the run-chase successfully in 21 overs with eight wickets in hand.
Josh Hazlewood recalls each wicket in his match-winning spell in Adelaide 2020-21
After Pat Cummins picked up the first three wickets during India’s 36 all-out, Josh Hazlewood bagged five of the next six Indian wickets in the 2020-21 Adelaide Test.
The 33-year-old accounted for Mayank Agarwal, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha, and Ravichandran Ashwin in his five-over spell.
“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.
He concluded:
“(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 finished with outstanding figures of 5/8 in his five overs as Australia took a 1-0 series lead. However, India bounced back from the shocking loss and won two of the next three games to complete a 2-1 series win.
Meanwhile, Josh Hazlewood won’t be able to replicate his magic with the pink ball in the ongoing series as he has been ruled out of the upcoming second Test against India due to a side strain. The right-arm seamer is likely to be replaced by Scott Boland in for all-important Test as Australia aim to continue their unbeaten record in day/night Tests intact.