Josh Hazlewood

A tall and accurate fast bowler who is unrelenting in his line and length, Josh Hazlewood became a fixture in Australia's Test attack as soon as he made his debut in December 2014 and has gone on to enjoy success across all formats.

Although he was only 23 at the time, the baggy green had felt a long time coming, given that Hazlewood had been highly regarded for so long. At 17, he had become the youngest fast bowler to be selected by New South Wales, and at 19 he was in his first one-day international against England at Southampton, joining Craig McDermott and Ray Bright as the only Australian 19-year-olds to play the format so soon. Hazlewood was initially chosen for Australia's Test tour of India in late 2010 but was withdrawn due to a back stress injury, and it was not until four years later that he finally played his first Test, having added significant strength to his 196cm frame.

Hazlewood grew up with Glenn McGrath as his idol and was handed a rookie state contract for 2008-09, despite still being in year 12 in Tamworth, in country New South Wales. At the time, he had not even played a game for a Sydney grade club. But the observers who had seen something in Hazlewood were to be justified, as he statistically kept pace with McGrath, or near enough to it, during the early stages of his international career. Both men had made their Test debuts at 23 and Hazlewood reached 100 Test wickets in 46 innings, just one innings slower than his idol.

After the leadership upheaval following the Newlands ball-tampering scandal, he was named joint vice-captain of the Test team but missed the tour of the UAE due to a back issue. Another back injury following the 2018-19 home series against India saw him replaced as vice-captain and miss out on the World Cup squad, having been part of Australia's successful campaign in 2015, but he was the man who claimed the wicket to retain the Ashes at Old Trafford a few months later.

His white-ball went to another level, aiding by his time at Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, and he was part of the 2021 T20 World Cup followed by another ODI triumph in 2023. Between those times there had been a frustrating run in Test cricket where injuries had limited his appearances alongside subcontinent-specific selections which saw him miss out on occasions. However, by late 2023 he was back to his best and in the 2023-24 season took his Test wickets at 15.31.
ESPNcricinfo staff