JoshHazlewood

A country boy from Tamworth, Hazlewood became the youngest ever fast-bowler to represent New South Wales in 2008, aged just 17.

An international debut followed in 2010, aged 19, when he took on England in an ODI in Southampton, becoming the youngest Australian player at that level.

Often compared to his idol Glenn McGrath, Hazlewood has forged a career on metronomic accuracy outside off stump with steep bounce due to both a large 196cm frame and a high release. This has made him one of the world’s most accomplished fast bowlers in the last decade.

Forming one-third of a fearsome attack featuring Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, Hazlewood has long been one of Australia’s first-picked players in Test and ODI cricket, however until 2020 this did not extend to the game’s shortest format.

But huge improvements to his variations and off-pace deliveries saw Hazlewood become a key member of Chennai Super King’s 2021 IPL triumph and, later that year, Australia’s maiden T20 World Cup title, sealing his reputation as one of the world’s premier all-format bowlers.