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Josh Hazlewood is often compared to Glenn McGrath due to his similar style of fast bowling—focused on control, accuracy, and consistent line and length rather than extreme pace. He typically targets the fourth or fifth stump channel and uses subtle swing and seam movement, making him a classical fast bowler. While not yet at McGrath’s level, he is regarded as one of the finest modern pacers. Hazlewood made his first-class debut at just 17 during the 2008–09 season, becoming the youngest fast bowler to represent New South Wales. He gradually progressed through domestic cricket and made his ODI debut in 2010, though he did not play regularly in that format for another few years. His breakthrough came in the 2013–14 domestic season, after which he was ready for international cricket. He made his Test debut against India in the 2014–15 home series and immediately impressed by taking a five-wicket haul at the Gabba. Soon, he became a key part of Australia’s pace attack alongside Mitchell Starc, combining Starc’s express pace with his own disciplined accuracy. Over time, he also developed skills for subcontinent conditions, including reverse swing. Hazlewood had a quieter 2015 Ashes tour in England, but he bounced back strongly in the 2017–18 Ashes in Australia, helping his team regain the urn. He also became an important ODI bowler, improving his pace and maintaining tight control, often bowling at around 87–88 mph while remaining highly economical. In 2019, he was controversially left out of Australia’s Cricket World Cup squad but responded strongly in the Ashes that year, taking 20 wickets in four matches. He returned to white-ball prominence during the 2021 T20 World Cup, where he took 11 wickets and helped Australia win the tournament. Injuries and selection changes affected parts of his career, including missing the 2023 World Test Championship Final and the 2024 IPL season. In the IPL, Hazlewood was first picked by Chennai Super Kings in 2020, where he played as an economical middle-overs bowler. He later joined Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where he continued to perform well across multiple seasons and was re-signed for the IPL 2025 auction after recovering from injury.
