Hazlewood in rare air with half-century of Tests

Test spearhead Josh Hazlewood will enter an exclusive club when he takes the field in Adelaide for Friday's second Domain Test against Pakistan.

The right-armer from Bendemeer will play his 50th Test match, becoming just the 14th Australian fast bowler to reach the milestone.

In his 49 Tests to date, Hazlewood has captured 190 wickets at 26.30 having taken 6-109 in the first Test in Brisbane as part of Australia's innings-and-five-run win over Pakistan.

It's been a highly successful journey for the 28-year-old who made his Test debut against India in 2014 at the Gabba, where he dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara for his maiden wicket as part of five-wicket haul of 5-68.

As Hazlewood has discovered, that immediate success was not a true reflection of the rigours of Test cricket he would endure over the next five years.

"I didn't know it was going to be this hard," Hazlewood said in Brisbane when asked what advice he would give to his younger self.

"You learn patience. You bowl in the nets all the time and you try and take two or three wickets and you're only bowling for half an hour.

"Once you get into Test cricket it's about building that pressure and patience and working on it all day.

"And a side is never going to roll over. That's a big one. That patience stands out for me."

Hazlewood is set to join legends Glenn McGrath, Dennis Lillee, Ray Lindwall and Keith Miller, along with teammates Mitch Starc, Peter Siddle and Mitchell Johnson in the select group.

His north-west NSW country roots, uncomplicated action and unrelenting line and length had Hazlewood compared with McGrath from an early age and was every bit as potent as the champion quick in this winter's Ashes series in England.

Having missed out on selection for the first Test, Hazlewood claimed 20 wickets in the remaining four matches to play a key role in Australia retaining the precious urn on English soil for the first time in 18 years.

He claimed six wickets in the fourth Test at Old Trafford, including the deciding final wicket, to see his side secure the Ashes, which marked a career highlight.

"To retain the Ashes over there and be the person to get that last wicket, it was a pretty special moment," Hazlewood said.

"There are some good moments of the team celebrating. It's just a great memory."

Australian fast bowlers with 50-plus Test appearances

Glenn McGrath – 124

Brett Lee – 76

Mitchell Johnson – 73

Jason Gillespie – 71

Craig McDermott – 71

Dennis Lillee – 70

Peter Siddle – 67

Ray Lindwall – 61

Graham McKenzie – 60

Keith Miller – 55

Merv Hughes – 53

Mitch Starc – 54

Jeff Thomson – 51

Domain Test Series v Pakistan

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner

Pakistan squad: Azhar Ali (c), Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan Snr, Iftikhar Ahmed, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Musa Khan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Yasir Shah.

First Test: Australia won by an innings and five runs.

Second Test: November 29 – December 3, Adelaide (d/n) (Seven, Fox & Kayo)