Josh Hazlewood a quiet achiever in the mould of former Test fast bowler Graham ‘Garth’ McKenzie

JOSH Hazlewood is a quiet achiever in the mould of former fast bowler Graham ‘Garth’ McKenzie, who picked up 246 Test scalps for Australia, writes Robert Craddock.

Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood prepares to bowl at the WACA Ground on Thursday in the first Test.

QUIETLY, systematically and without a semblance of fuss Josh Hazlewood is reviving the spirit of Australia’s most under-rated fast bowler.

Many years ago in the offices of the Australian Cricketers Association there hung a team photo including a man office staff could not identify.

They asked around and finally the problem was solved when a former star of the 1970s popped and shook his head that at the question.

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“Are you serious – that’s Graham McKenzie … he took 246 Test wickets and you don’t recognise him?’’ he said.

But in a way the omission summed up the career of the understated “Garth’’ McKenzie who professionally crafted out a 10-year, 60-Test career then quickly disappearing into history without the fanfare he deserved.

Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood prepares to bowl at the WACA Ground on Thursday in the first Test.

Hazlewood is becoming this sort of the player, the anchorman rather than the showman, the blue chip share who has the odd dip in the market but know you in any given year he’ll give you a solid return for your investment.

He is the sort of player you notice enormously when he is not there but, strangely, when he is there, he can easily blend in with the trees.

Perhaps it’s because he is fast but not express, confident but not aggressive, a grinder rather than a flame-thrower.

On Thursday Hazlewood paid his way for the day early with his probing length extracting Hashim Amla caught at second slip then Dean Elgar caught behind, classical seamers dismissals which found the edge of defensive bats.

His nerveless precision gave Australia a key early advantage.

Graham McKenzie took 246 Test wickets for Australia.

Hazlewood’s two wickets took his wicket tally to 81 at an average of around 26 in his 21st Test. McKenzie had 88 wickets at 28 after 21 Tests so he is only half a step behind one of Australia’s finest bowlers.

His unsung, almost robotic demeamour when he walks back to his mark is reminiscent of another under-rated seamer, Paul Reiffel.

Not every fast man can have Dennis Lillee’s aura. Hazlewood is not a fire breathing dragon by nature and to his credit he has never tried to play this role or be anything he is not.

When he gets wicket it is the quality of his work not the force of his personality.

Hazlewood has done better in Test cricket than he has been given credit for.

Mitchell Starc was in and out of the side seven times in his early years and even the great Glenn McGrath lost his spot a few times.

Hazlewood has been dropped as well but essentially has managed to plane out the volatile ups and downs which are so much a part of the young fast bowler’s life.

Life has not been perfect for him.

His reliable seamers were expected to deliver Australia the Ashes in England last year but his form faltered.

And after a strong start to the recent Sri Lankan series he ran out of puff in the last two Tests.

He has not had much bowling recently so he will have benefited from Thurs’s hitout.