McGrath backs Hazlewood's durability

Test legend Glenn McGrath says he'd be the first to congratulate Josh Hazlewood if the young quick ends up breaking his record of 563 Test wickets.

Hazlewood’s tall physique and uncomplicated action has long seen him be compared to McGrath, whose mark of 563 wickets from 124 Tests is the most by any fast-bowler in the history of the game.

Hazlewood is still some 519 wickets behind the legendary quick, but McGrath likes what he sees in the 24-year-old right-armer.

"He has a simple action, he's tall, he can get the ball through well, and he swings the ball," McGrath writes in his autobiography Test of Will.

"The reason I'm happy with what I see is there doesn't seem too much that can go wrong.

"He won't have to undergo too much change or a complete revamp to unravel any problems."

WATCH: McGrath presents Hazlewood with his Baggy Green

While impressed with Hazlewood's "simple action", McGrath says longevity is "one of the hardest goals" to attain for a fast bowler.

McGrath's simple approach and lean frame no doubt helped him avoid the multitude of serious injuries that normally beset a fast-bowler during a career.

It meant the tall right-armer was able to dominate throughout a magnificent 13-year career, which included six Ashes triumphs and three World Cup victories.

Hazlewood had to overcome several serious injuries - including stress fractures - before he'd even made his Test debut, something McGrath said underlines the quick's mental fortitude.

And he said he'd "be the first to congratulate him" if Hazlewood is able to better his mark of 563 wickets.

Image Id: ~/media/3D3BE871A3454308A84B8DAE4D01727A

McGrath was a star of world cricket for more than a decade // Getty

"From what I can understand he's come through all of (the injuries) with an approach that nothing is going to stop him from getting to where he wants to be," he said. "And I applaud that.

"(He) appears to have a very good work ethic and a desire to succeed."

Hazlewood burst onto the scene last summer with a five-wicket haul against India in Brisbane and was named man-of-the-series in the West Indies earlier this year, taking 12 wickets in two Tests.

The right-armer admitted he struggled to adapt to the English Dukes ball during the Ashes, where he took 16 wickets but conceded runs at a higher rate than previously in his fledgling career.

McGrath spoke with Hazlewood during the fourth Test at Trent Bridge, noting the tall quick appeared to have strayed from his regular method of line-and-length bowling and was looking to swing the ball in the foreign conditions.

WATCH: McGrath advises Hazlewood at Trent Bridge

McGrath said it was a mistake he too had made early in his career, and urged Hazlewood to stick to his strengths.

“I thought Josh would have bowled really well over here,” McGrath told cricket.com.au at the time.

"I was looking forward to it. (I’m) a little bit disappointed for him.

"A lot of people have been saying if you want to be successful at Test level you’ve got to be able to swing the ball consistently, bowl an outswinger.

"I wanted to be successful so I started swinging the ball (and) didn’t have the control. I played a game (against) England, 1994-95 series in Brisbane. Finished with 0-120 and didn’t play the next three games.

"I learned my lesson there, went back to the reason I got picked, started hitting the right areas and the rest his history. 

"I’d like to see him go back to hitting the deck more. If he can get a little more outswing, great, but make sure you don’t lose that bounce."