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'Take 10 wickets on final day': Josh Hazlewood sends warning as Bangladesh eye historic Test win vs Australia in Darwin originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Josh Hazlewood believes Australia can still win the Darwin Test despite Bangladesh's dominance.
- Australia trails by 67 runs at 161/4 heading into Day 4 against Bangladesh.
- Bangladesh is chasing a first-ever Test win on Australian soil.
Josh Hazlewood sends warning as Bangladesh eye historic win vs Australia in Darwin
Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has struck a defiant note in the face of Bangladesh's dominance in the Darwin Test, insisting his side can still force an unlikely victory. His confidence comes despite the tourists holding a commanding position after three days.
Bangladesh has controlled the contest at the Marrara Cricket Ground, building a substantial first-innings total to pile the pressure on the hosts. Australia ended Day 3 on 161 for 4, still trailing by 67 runs, with Cameron Green and Alex Carey the last recognised pair standing between them and a heavy deficit.
Hazlewood himself had earlier claimed 6 for 89 in Bangladesh's first innings to become just the ninth Australian bowler to reach 300 Test wickets. Now the pacer is pinning his hopes on a fightback led by the batters, followed by a dramatic bowling effort on a wearing surface.
MORE: Weakest Australia batting lineup in a generation: Tough questions for Aussies after Bangladesh dominates Darwin Test
Josh Hazlewood eyes 10 wickets on the final day in Darwin
Hazlewood explained that the key was for Australia to bat deep and post a total that could allow their bowlers to apply scoreboard pressure.
He was encouraged by the signs of variable bounce in the pitch. "Once we tick those runs off, hopefully we're still four down, and you can start to build the pressure," Hazlewood said after Day 3, as quoted by Cricinfo.
He was quick to outline how the unpredictable surface could give Australia a route to bowling Bangladesh out cheaply. "If we can bat deep into tomorrow and potentially even the whole day, maybe there are always opportunities to take 10 wickets on the final day if the wicket is a little bit up and down," Hazlewood said.
He made it clear that the Aussies aren't playing for a draw, as he mentioned, "So the win is still definitely in our minds, and always is, pretty much."
Hazlewood also addressed Green's fortunate survival on 12, when an inside edge grazed the leg stump without dislodging the bails. He praised the all-rounder's positive approach amid questions over his place in the side.
"You definitely need luck in cricket, that's for sure," Hazlewood said. "I think his intent has been good. He's looked to score from the outset. A little bit of luck goes a long way sometimes. So you never know."
MORE: 'Frailties in technique': Ponting slams Australia's top order following collapse in 1st Test vs Bangladesh
Why history is stacked against Australia in Darwin
For all Hazlewood's optimism, the scale of Australia's task is enormous. To win from here, they would need to overturn the biggest first-innings deficit in their history at home, having trailed by 228 runs after Bangladesh made 426 in reply to Australia's 198.
The previous biggest deficit Australia had overcome for a home win was 206 against Pakistan at the SCG in 2010.
The largest they have ever overturned anywhere was a 291-run trail against Sri Lanka in 1992, a Test they won by just 16 runs, underlining how rare such comebacks are. Bangladesh all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz, meanwhile, was clear on the visitors' plan to keep any target as small as possible.
"We are playing on a good wicket, so all we want to do is bowl in the right areas. We have to work hard for each wicket," Mehidy said. He stressed the importance of striking early on Day 4 to deny Australia's remaining batters.
"If we can take at least three or four wickets within these 67 runs, then we won't have a difficult target coming up. I don't want to predict the future, but we must own the first session on day four," Mehidy added.
MORE: AUS vs BAN 1st Test, Day 4 - scorecard, highlights, winning chances from Darwin
Why Hazlewood's belief may be more hope than expectation
Hazlewood's refusal to concede is admirable, and there is a sliver of logic in his plan given the variable bounce he described. A lead of even 120 to 150, defended on a deteriorating pitch, would not be straightforward for a Bangladesh batting order that has already done the hard work but could tighten under the weight of a historic finish line.
Yet the numbers tell the more honest story. No Australian side has ever overturned a deficit of this size at home, and they are relying on Green and a thin lower order simply to wipe out the arrears, let alone build a meaningful target.
Bangladesh has outplayed the hosts in every session so far, and if Mehidy and Hasan Mahmud strike early on Day 4 as planned, Hazlewood's talk of 10 wickets may quickly give way to one of the most famous results in Bangladesh's cricketing history.
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