Hazlewood's 6-49 surpasses Brett Lee in Australia's all-time Test wicket list
Synopsis
Josh Hazlewood turned back the clock at Kingsmead, posting a career-best 6 for 49 to bowl South Africa out and hand Australia a 214-run win — while quietly moving past Brett Lee's 310 Test wickets to become Australia's sixth-highest wicket-taking fast bowler. Mitchell Johnson's tally of 313 is now squarely in his sights.
Key Takeaways
Josh Hazlewood took a career-best 6 for 49 in the second innings at Kingsmead, Durban on 13 October 2026 .
His match haul of 8 wickets helped Australia dismiss South Africa for 206 and win by 214 runs .
Hazlewood surpassed Brett Lee (310 wickets) to reach 311 Test wickets , becoming Australia's sixth-highest wicket-taking fast bowler .
He is level with former India fast bowlers Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan on 311 wickets ; Mitchell Johnson (313) is next.
Shane Warne (708) leads Australia's all-time Test wicket chart, followed by Nathan Lyon (573) .
Australia take a 1-0 lead in the series with the second Test still to come.
Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood surpassed former speedster Brett Lee to become Australia's sixth-highest wicket-taking fast bowler in Test cricket, finishing with a career-best 6 for 49 in the first Test against South Africa at Kingsmead, Durban on Tuesday, 13 October 2026. His match haul of 8 wickets powered Australia to a commanding 214-run win in Durban.
The Milestone in Numbers
Hazlewood arrived at the Test with 303 wickets to his name. His two wickets in the first innings and career-best 6 for 49 in the second pushed his tally to 311 scalps, moving him past Brett Lee's 310. He now stands as Australia's eighth-highest wicket-taker overall, with spin legend Shane Warne leading the chart on 708 wickets and off-spinner Nathan Lyon second with 573.
The Kingsmead outing also saw Hazlewood leapfrog several respected names in the global charts — Kemar Roach (304), Fred Trueman (307), Lance Gibbs (309), and Morne Morkel (309). He is now level with former Indian fast bowlers Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan on 311 wickets, with compatriot Mitchell Johnson (313) the next target on the list.
How Hazlewood Dismantled South Africa on Day 5
The Proteas began the final day at 102 for 4, needing an improbable 319 runs to win. Hazlewood claimed four of the six second-innings wickets to fall on Day 5, proving decisive at every critical juncture. Wiaan Mulder offered stubborn resistance — facing 110 balls for 29 runs — before being removed by Hazlewood. Marco Jansen, who blended defiance with attacking intent, was clean bowled for 35 off what was described as a near-unplayable delivery. Hazlewood also dismissed Simon Harmer in the same over before ending the innings by bouncing out Anrich Nortje, sealing the win.
Context: A Career in Ascent
Hazlewood's rise up the all-time charts underlines his consistency as a Test match bowler across formats and conditions. Notably, this performance came on South African soil, where pace and bounce have historically rewarded seamers. This is the first Test of the series, and the 214-run margin gives Australia a commanding 1-0 lead. The result continues Australia's strong recent run in away Test series, and puts pressure on South Africa heading into the remainder of the contest.
What Comes Next
With Mitchell Johnson's tally of 313 just two wickets away, Hazlewood is within touching distance of another Australian landmark. The second Test of the series will offer him the earliest opportunity to move past Johnson and climb further up one of cricket's most storied bowling charts.
Point of View
On a foreign pitch, in a series-deciding performance, speaks to Hazlewood's craft over charisma. With Johnson's 313 now just two wickets away, the question is whether Hazlewood can hold form long enough to enter the true upper tier of Australian pace bowling — a group that, beyond Warne and Lyon, is still largely defined by the McGrath-Lillee era. The 214-run win also signals that Australia's pace battery remains among the most complete in world cricket, a detail that will not be lost on teams preparing for the next World Test Championship cycle.
NationPress
13 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What record did Josh Hazlewood break at Kingsmead?
Josh Hazlewood surpassed Brett Lee's tally of 310 Test wickets to reach 311, becoming Australia's sixth-highest wicket-taking fast bowler. The milestone came during a career-best 6 for 49 in the first Test against South Africa in Durban on 13 October 2026.
What was Hazlewood's match haul in the Durban Test?
Hazlewood took 8 wickets across both innings — 2 in the first and a career-best 6 for 49 in the second. His second-innings haul helped bowl South Africa out for 206 and sealed a 214-run Australian win.
Who are the top wicket-takers for Australia in Test cricket?
Shane Warne leads Australia's all-time Test wicket chart with 708 wickets, followed by Nathan Lyon on 573. Hazlewood, with 311, is now the eighth-highest wicket-taker overall and the sixth-highest among Australian fast bowlers.
Who is Hazlewood's next milestone target in Test wickets?
Mitchell Johnson, with 313 Test wickets, is the next name on the list — just two wickets ahead of Hazlewood's current tally of 311. The second Test of the South Africa series provides the earliest opportunity to close that gap.
What was South Africa's situation on Day 5 of the Durban Test?
South Africa began the final day at 102 for 4, needing 319 runs for an improbable win. Hazlewood took four of the remaining six wickets, dismissing Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, and Anrich Nortje to complete the Australian victory.
