A Milestone Worthy of Celebration

In any other scenario, Josh Hazlewood picking up his 300th Test wicket would have been a moment that called for a more significant celebration. It was, after all, a landmark achievement that meant for the first time in Test history, a team was playing with a quartet of bowlers each boasting over 300 Test victims — an ode to the longevity and togetherness of this first-ballot Hall of Fame bowling attack.

It was also a tribute to the resilience of Hazlewood himself, who has fought back from numerous injuries without ever losing his drive to succeed at the Test level despite the setbacks.

The Moment Itself

The acknowledgement of Hazlewood's feat was certainly present, whether around Marrara Oval or from his own teammates. They ran up to their talisman fast bowler and jumped on him as he held up the ball in ceremonial fashion after dismissing Mehidy Hasan Miraz for 65.

But context dampened the celebrations. The wicket came in the 134th over of Bangladesh's innings — the 26th delivered by Hazlewood. The visitors had by then stretched their score to 418, a lead well beyond 200. Here was a team who had not been to these shores in 23 years dictating terms to statistically the greatest bowling group of all time. That was simply how dominant Bangladesh had been across the first three days of the Test, with the opportunity to pull off the greatest coup in Test history on Day 4.

Australia's Second Innings: Green Shines, Others Falter

Australia have looked largely untroubled in their second innings despite losing four wickets on what is still a very good pitch to bat on. They might even harbour hopes of turning the match around, especially if Cameron Green can turn his very impressive 43 not out into the kind of score Australia has been waiting to see from him.

But where Green managed to stick around, the other two batters under pressure in this line-up, Jake Weatherald and Marnus Labuschagne, failed to do so. Weatherald lasted only three deliveries during a manic stay at the crease, looking completely overcome by the pressure of the situation. Labuschagne, in fact, batted the best he has in a while — particularly against the fast bowlers — before falling to an innocuous delivery from left-arm spinner Taijul Islam. It was another wasted opportunity to show the selectors and Australian cricket that he is still good enough to be their long-term No. 3.

Hazlewood's Triumphant Return

In the midst of all the cynicism around this Australian Test team, it was all the more important that they walked away on Saturday with one really positive storyline — that of Hazlewood's very impressive return to Test cricket after a year away. To see the 35-year-old slot right back into his work after missing the entire Ashes series, and to get through the grind of bowling multiple spells in testing weather conditions, are great signs for the 12 months that lie ahead.

There had been very promising signs of Hazlewood being at his brilliant best at the start of last summer as he harassed the Indian batters in the ODI series in October. But that turned into his only international cricket output for the home season as he didn't feature in any of the Tests against England. Seeing him charging in repeatedly in Darwin against the extreme resistance of the Bangladeshis on a pitch that offered him very little was a reminder to the Australian cricket community of how invaluable he has been since kickstarting his career against India at the Gabba in December 2014.

Adjusting to Old-School Cricket

Mitchell Starc had an interesting take post-play on the adjustments Australia have had to make against a team that has chosen to play old-fashioned, traditional Test cricket based around attrition. After two seasons where it felt like the opposition was prepared to be bowled out quickly as long as they were scoring quickly, Bangladesh's approach required a different mindset entirely.

Not surprisingly, Hazlewood's accuracy and his relentless pursuit of interrogating batters' techniques until they break was perfectly suited to combat the old-school approach from Bangladesh. And if he manages to keep his body going for another 12 months, he will remain the most reliable option for Pat Cummins to turn to in different conditions — and Australia will feel like they have their anchor back.