Cricket World Cup: Five reasons why Josh Hazlewood is Australia’s tournament wildcard

JOSH Hazlewood looms as Australia’s key paceman for the 2015 World Cup. Here are five reasons why the event could be the making of the fast bowler.

SPORT - One Day International cricket, Australia v South Africa at WACA in Perth. Photo by Daniel Wilkins. PICTURED- Australian bowler Josh Hazlewood prepares to bowl.

MITCHELL Johnson is widely, and rightly, considered Australia’s most important bowler for the upcoming Cricket World Cup.

If he fires, the Aussies will be hard to post decent totals against.

But as opposition batsmen focus on Johnson and pack spare undies in preparation for a lethal left-arm onslaught, they can’t afford to ignore and underestimate Australia’s wildcard paceman.

Josh Hazlewood was rewarded for his sensational summer with both white ball and red ball at international level on Sunday, selected in his country’s 15-man squad for cricket’s showpiece event.

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The 24-year-old, who has only played six ODIs to date, might not be Australia’s quickest or most intimidating bowler. However he could be the most dangerous and effective by tournament’s end.

Here are five reasons why the 2015 World Cup could be the making of Hazlewood.

Josh Hazlewood has been selected in Australia’s 15-man World Cup squad. Picture: Mark Evans

1. He’s already comfortable at international level

WHILE it was in a different format, Hazlewood was arguably the bowling success story of Australia’s Test series victory over India, sending down over 125 overs across three matches.

He bowled with brilliant accuracy and zip on debut at the pace-friendly Gabba, picking up a well-deserved five-wicket haul.

But just as impressive was his disciplined fifth-day performance at the SCG, conceding just one run from his first 45 balls then using accurate reverse swing to claim two vital wickets late in the day.

Hazlewood took 12 wickets at an average of 29.33 in the series. Remarkably, he was the only bowler — Australian or Indian — to finish with an average of less than 30.

2. His McGrath-like bowling could produce McGrath-like figures

AS A child, Hazlewood idolised Glenn McGrath. As an adult, Hazlewood bowls an awful lot like Glenn McGrath. At the upcoming World Cup, Hazlewood has the potential to register Glenn McGrath-like number.

With 71 wickets from 39 games, McGrath is the most successful bowler in World Cup history.

Like Hazlewood, McGrath was never Australia’s quickest or seemingly most lethal bowler — yet he was the most damaging. His consistent, hard-to-score-off lines and lengths were most effective.

If Hazlewood can produce the same consistency and extra bounce that McGrath made so famous, he could well be Australia’s leading wicket-taker come tournament’s end.

Josh Hazlewood made an impression during Australia’s recent ODI series against South Africa. Picture: Daniel Wilkins

3. He’s already proven himself at ODI level against the best

SOUTH Africa looms as arguably Australia’s biggest challenger for the World Cup. But Hazlewood looms as South Africa’s biggest challenge should the two teams meet.

The fast bowler already has the wood on the Proteas, after taking nine wickets from four games in the countries’ recent ODI series — an individual performance many pundits took notice of.

Hazlewood sizzled against one of the world’s best ODI teams, particularly at the WACA where he took 5-31 in a tight loss.

If Hazlewood can rip through batting line-ups like South Africa’s — a star-studded side that includes Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis — he can dismantle any side’s top order.

4. His workhorse-like approach will complement a fiery attack

HAZLEWOOD, Johnson, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins — a scintillating fast bowling line-up.

Barring Hazlewood, the selectors have chosen an explosive attack that can strike fear into opposition batsmen, yet they can sometimes bowl erratically.

Enter Hazlewood — the workhorse of the bowling brigade.

His consistent, line-and-length approach is well balanced against the other three blistering quicks.

Hazlewood’s ability to frustrate batsman and keep runs to a minimum, especially at the start of a 50-over clash when the majority of the field is inside the circle, should lead to wickets for him or, potentially, his teammates.

Josh Hazlewood took five wickets on Test debut against India at the Gabba. Picture: Adam Head

5. He suits Australian pitches

THE boy from Tamworth will love bowling to the world’s best batsmen in his own backyard.

An intelligent paceman, Hazlewood uses his strength and height to hit the deck hard in search of an outside edge. However he also finds nicks by swinging the old and new ball.

Of the 12 wickets he took against India, eight of them were caught by the wicketkeeper or in the slips cordon.

Speaking to the media after the series, Test skipper Steve Smith said Hazlewood thrives on Aussies pitches.

“He’s got that extra height and that extra bounce so that’s something that I think is very important on Australian wickets. He just gets that little extra bit of kiss from the wicket and extra bounce, which can catch the edge of the bat,” Smith said.

Originally published as Cricket World Cup: Five reasons why Josh Hazlewood is Australia’s tournament wildcard