Hazlewood emerges to win ICC award

Josh Hazlewood has been named the International Cricket Council Emerging Player of the Year, capping off an amazing 12 months for the young Australia fast bowler.

In the voting period between September 18, 2014 and September 13, 2015, Hazlewood claimed 40 wickets in nine Tests at 21.75, to earn a spot in the ICC's Test Team of the Year.

A return of 5-38 against the West Indies at Sabina Park was his best innings haul during the period, followed by 5-68 on Test debut against India in Brisbane. 

WATCH: Hazlewood's five on Test debut

"It’s a genuine thrill to be recognised in this way," Hazlewood said. "Throughout the year, my aim has been to really cement a position in the Australia Test and one-day international teams, to prove that I belong at that level.

"So, to earn a regular spot in the Test side and to be a part of a World Cup winning team has been a dream come true.

"My goal is to really build on this positive start and turn it into a long and successful career."

The 'Bendemeer Bullet' was a key member in Australia's triumphant Cricket World Cup campaign on home soil at year's start, and overall dismissed 18 batsmen in 11 One-Day Internationals in the voting period.

A career-best 5-31 in Perth against a powerful South African batting order including the likes of AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis and Hashim Amla stamped his class in only his fourth ODI. 

WATCH: Hazlewood takes five against the Proteas in Perth

Hazlewood is the third Australian to win the award behind fellow fast bowlers Shaun Tait (2007) and Peter Siddle (2009).

And the towering quick is now Australia's highest-ranked Test bowler, sitting just outside the top five at No.6 after a gruelling six months for the national side that has claimed four frontline quicks and left the 24-year-old as the leader of the pace attack.

"He's been a shining light, a young guy coming through who will be able to play a lot of cricket," Bupa Support Team Head Coach Darren Lehmann told cricket.com.au's post-play program Stumps after the first Test against the West Indies in Hobart.

"We've got to make sure we keep him on the park because we've lost Starc, we've lost (Pat) Cummins, and Johnson and (Ryan) Harris have retired. So that makes it hard for us. 

"I thought in the second innings in Perth he bowled really well with the new ball. I think he bowled six or seven overs for three runs and he looked like he started to get (his form) back there.

"In Adelaide he bowled beautifully, got nine for the game, and again down here he's starting to lead the attack, which is great." 

WATCH: Hazlewood takes three in Lord's rout

Hazlewood has been likened to Glenn McGrath, one of Test cricket's greatest fast bowlers, and the champion speedster like what he sees in his young doppelganger.

"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."

Full list of winners

ICC Cricketer of the Year (Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy) - Steven Smith (Australia)

ICC Test Cricketer of the Year – Steven Smith (Australia)

ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year – AB de Villiers (South Africa)

ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year – Meg Lanning (Australia)

ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year – Stafanie Taylor (West Indies)

ICC T20I Performance of the Year – Faf du Plessis (South Africa) (119, 56 balls, 11x4, 5x6 – 2nd T20I vs West Indies, 11 January 2015, Johannesburg)

ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year – Josh Hazlewood (Australia)

ICC Associate/Affiliate Cricketer of the Year – Khurram Khan (UAE)

ICC Spirit of Cricket Award – Brendon McCullum (New Zealand)

ICC Umpire of the Year (David Shepherd Trophy) – Richard Kettleborough