Hazlewood 'thriving' on extra responsibility

On Boxing Day 2014, Josh Hazlewood was very much the greenest member of Australia's attack. He'd only received his cap the previous week in Brisbane, so it was pretty green as well. Fast forward one year and Hazlewood is now the leader of Australia's pace-bowling unit, and this week his outstanding first 12 months as a Test cricketer was recognised when the ICC named him its Emerging Cricketer of the Year.

Last year against India, Mitchell Johnson and Ryan Harris were the established men to whom stand-in captain Steven Smith could turn during the Boxing Day Test. Now Johnson and Harris have retired, Mitchell Starc is injured, and although the experienced Peter Siddle has returned to the squad along with James Pattinson, Hazlewood is Smith's new Mr Reliable, the man he calls on when he needs a wicket.

In fact, since Hazlewood first walked out in a Test match on December 17 last year, no fast bowler in the world has taken more Test wickets than the 60 he has claimed at 22.65. Notably he has only missed one Test match in that time - he was replaced by Siddle for the final Ashes Test at The Oval - and he has a realistic chance of playing all six Tests this home summer, his importance growing in the absence of Starc.

"Seeing Mitch go down has probably put a bit more responsibility on the other quicks, I definitely felt that in the second innings in Adelaide," Hazlewood said in Melbourne on Thursday. "I guess you do get the ball in your hand a little bit more, being the leading bowler. I seem to thrive on that extra responsibility. Smithy turns to me when we need a wicket and need to break a partnership. I'm enjoying it at the moment."

The first year of Hazlewood in Test cricket contrasts significantly to those of Starc and Pattinson, who debuted together at the Gabba four years ago when they were both 21. Neither Starc nor Pattinson were able to maintain their fitness and/or form throughout their first year, but Hazlewood, having debuted in ODIs at 19 but waited until he was 23 for his first Test, had a greater base to work from.

"I watched Mitch Starc get given that Test match, and Jimmy as well, quite early on," Hazlewood said. "They probably weren't quite ready, but I think that extra couple of years in Shield cricket got me ready for Test cricket. I probably knew my body a little bit better injury-wise, and what I could bowl with. I think that played a little part in that."

Unless Scott Boland debuts against West Indies in Melbourne, Hazlewood will still be the most junior member of Australia's Test attack in terms of matches played, but he is its leader on the field. Off the field, though, he said the importance of Siddle around the group could not be understated. Siddle, 31, claimed his 200th Test wicket in the Adelaide Test but seems to perennially be the fast bowler in most danger of being dropped.

"I think Sidds is as important off the field as he is on the field, just around training and before the games and even talking about how we're going to go about getting the batsmen out," Hazlewood said. "He's very experienced and the young guys really learn off him. He's great to have out on the field when you're bowling as well. He'll be talking you through what you're doing and how to improve all the time.

"As well, there's his bowling. He's been outstanding in the past few games. He hasn't taken as many wickets as he would've liked, but just that economical drying up the runs, as we can attack from the other end."

Siddle's role as the stock bowler who keeps things tight should ensure he plays his seventh Boxing Day Test at his home ground, but Boland has impressed Australia's selectors this summer and it is not out of the question that he could become the first Victorian to make his Test debut on Boxing Day in nearly 30 years. Pattinson, another Victorian, said he felt Boland had out-performed both himself and Siddle this summer.

"He's quite an awkward bowler actually," Pattinson said. "He stands the seam up quite tall and gets the ball to move both ways. He actually gets a lot of bounce too. He's quite a skiddy bowler so he's onto you pretty quick too. His bowling has improved out of sight over the last few years. He's probably been our best bowler in our current Shield season and obviously our best one-day bowler. He deserves his chance and I'm sure he will do a great job."