Ashes 2015: Time for Josh Hazlewood to prove Dennis Lillee right on call he will excel in England

DENNIS Lillee made the call seven months ago that Josh Hazlewood would dominate in English conditions, and now the time has come for the Australian fast bowling star to prove it.

Australia's Josh Hazlewood reacts as he dismisses West Indies' Jermaine Blackwood on day four of the second cricket Test between Australia and the West Indies, June 14, 2015 at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica. AFP PHOTO / ROBYN BECK

DENNIS Lillee made the call seven months ago that Josh Hazlewood would dominate in English conditions, and now the time has come for the Australian fast bowling star to prove it.

With Ryan Harris effectively scratched from the first two Tests and the veteran’s hopes to play any part in the series looking as creaky as his troubled knee, Hazlewood’s importance to the Aussies’ hopes of breaking a 14-year Ashes drought on UK soil has grown immeasurably.

Hazlewood looked immediately home in his Test debut against India last summer and then in the pressure stages of a World Cup triumph.

Although yet to bowl in a Test in England, Hazlewood has been told by everyone from Lillee, to Geoff Lawson to Craig McDermott, that he was born to spearhead an Ashes tour and he heads to Cardiff next week brimming with confidence.

“I’ve had quite a number (say that) so far,” said Hazlewood.

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“Craig McDermott has said it a few times and then some of the older quicks. So as long as I keep doing what I’m doing and hit those spots, there’s always a little bit off the seam or in the air in English conditions, especially when it’s overcast and the ball is quite new.

“I enjoy the Duke (ball) a lot.”

Before Hazlewood had even made his Test debut, Australia’s greatest ever fast bowler Lillee already had the big right-armer from Tamworth down for an Ashes trip.

Five matches later, Hazlewood has taken 24 wickets at just 19.08 and the prospect of him fulfilling Lillee’s predictions have only gathered momentum.

“I think he’ll do super well in English and South African conditions,” Lillee told News Corp in November.

“Because he’s high in the core, he hits the deck, swings it out and swings it back.

“He’s a handful on most wickets, but certainly if they’re a bit handy or a bit useful, he looks to me like he could be quite unplayable.”

Hazlewood says he’s already worked out the nuances of how to make the ball swing in England.

“I’ve played a couple of one-day games here but I still think I’ve learned a lot in the last two weeks bowling with the Duke ball in these conditions,” he said.

“I see a lot of difference when the sun’s out and when it’s cloudy, I’ve worked that out and I think the wickets are a lot slower and you’ve got to bowl that fuller length to get the most out of the ball.

“I’ve enjoyed seeing it swing a fair bit at training so I’m pretty happy with how it’s coming out so I’m looking forward to putting that into practice.”

Originally published as Ashes 2015: Time for Josh Hazlewood to prove Dennis Lillee right on call he will excel in England