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Ashes a stage for generation next

Former quick McGrath nominates Hazlewood, Root as key figures in upcoming battle

While recent Ashes series have generally been dominated by senior, more experienced players, Australia legend Glenn McGrath has nominated a pair of young guns he expects to shine when the battle resumes from July 8.

McGrath believes Australia’s Player of the Series in the Caribbean Tests, 24-year-old Josh Hazlewood, can deliver with the ball if given the opportunity from the first Test in Cardiff.

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After debuting last summer against India, Hazlewood has played five Tests, collecting 25 wickets at 19.08.

“He’s pretty grounded now, he knows his game well, he’s a good country lad,” McGrath told cricket.com.au. “He had a bit of a sniff of international cricket quite a few years back, now he’s got a second stint (which) makes you hungry.

“The way he goes about things is very good; keeps it simple, bowls good areas, gets a little bit of swing, bounce, and when you have that control it makes a big difference.

“He’s already had a little bit of success in the Test arena, a couple of five-fors under the belt. He’s had a great start.

“He’s just been bowling incredibly well, hitting good areas. England will really suit his style of bowling down to the ground.”

McGrath, who took 87 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 19.34 across three England tours (1997-2005), also offered a tip to Australia’s quicks about bowling in Old Enemy territory.

“In England it’s important to hit the seam,” he said. “You’ve got to do that, and if you do miss the seam it makes a big difference.

“The ball doesn’t do as much, it skids on, you become less effective.

“It’s important for all the boys, especially Mitchell Johnson, to be able to hit the seam. If he (Johnson) does that then he’ll go well.

“For Josh, he bowls those good areas, hits the seam. I loved playing in England. My stats in England I think were better than anywhere else. Using the Dukes ball I think they’ll enjoy too. If Josh starts in the first Test I think he’ll do very well.”

Together with Hazlewood, McGrath believes the extra pace of Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson presents a different kind of threat.

“(Bowlers who can bowl at 150kph) add a different dimension in to the game,” he continued. “You’re not only trying to survive but there’s a certain fear factor you’ve got to overcome as well. “When you’ve got a guy who’s bowling at that pace … you don’t come across it every day. It’s something quite unique and something you’ve got to combat.

“Modern-day cricketers, they’ve got all the protective equipment, they should have the skill level to do it, but it’s not something you see every day.”

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Joe Root looms as a major Ashes threat // Getty Images

On the other side of the ledger, McGrath nominated England’s 24-year-old middle-order star Joe Root as one man capable of causing the Australians headaches.

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Root has begun his Test career in impressive fashion, already registering six hundreds in 27 matches, including 180 against the Australians during the 2013 series, and McGrath places him alongside a couple of England veterans as key wickets.

“Alastair Cook’s always a big key being the captain as well,” he said when asked who he would target this series.

“He’s found a bit of form of late so he’ll be important and the guys will be keen to get on top of him. “Ian Bell has a lot of experience, but the guy who seems to be doing well for England of late is Joe Root.

“If they can do well against Cook and Joe Root, that will help their cause to no end.”