T20 World Cup: Josh Hazlewood’s same string finds new bow

If anyone embodied the unfashionable nature of Australia’s approach to the Twenty20 World Cup it was the boy from Bendemeer, Josh Hazlewood.

Josh Hazlewood was one of only five bowlers who took more than 10 wickets in the T20 World Cup. Picture: AFP

If anyone embodied the unfashionable nature of Australia’s approach to the Twenty20 World Cup it was the boy from Bendemeer, Josh Hazlewood.

Here was the man least likely. A line-and-length bowler who doesn’t swing it much, doesn’t have too many tricks and had essentially been overlooked in this format for most of his career.

Here also is the man who in the matter of a month has won a T20 World Cup final with Australia and the IPL with Chennai Super Kings.

It was only two years ago he was left out of the 50-over World Cup. Yes, he was coming back from injury, but had he been considered essential they would have found a way to include him.

Aaron Finch, left, says Hazlewood forced his way into World Cup squad after a strong IPL series. Picture: AFP

Aaron Finch said after the final that had Hazlewood not been part of a successful IPL side he probably would not have appeared in the tournament.

“To be able to share his experience at CSK was really important,” he said. “The length to bowl, particularly at the end of the tournament where the wickets start to get a little bit more worn and hard; a length which is Josh’s speciality, I guess — tough to hit.

“That was really important he passed on that information, and, honestly, his performances in the IPL probably forced his way into the starting XI over Kane Richardson, who is a wonderful T20 bowler and someone who has been so important for us. It was a tough call.”

In the eight years to June Hazle­wood had played nine T20 games for Australia. He has played 15 since — including every game in this tournament.

“It’s been a great few weeks with these guys here,” he said. “We’ve had a good time and played some cricket in the meantime. It’s been awesome.

Hazlewood thrived bowling an old-school length. Picture: Getty Images

“I’ve learnt a fair bit during the IPL with the Chennai team and the other bowlers around. They’re all from different backgrounds. It’s been a great lead-in to here.

“You just learn little things from people along the way and try and put them into practice when you can, and lucky enough I did that tonight.”

His 11 wickets at an economy rate of 7.29 was second only among the Australian attack to Adam Zampa’s 13 at 5.81 runs an over and placed him among the five bowlers who took more than 10 in the tournament.

Mitchell Starc was gifted first dibs in most matches because his ability to swing the ball and disturb the stumps with his yorker is the type of shock and awe the side favoured.

Hazlewood was the settler when the tactic didn’t work, and he did it often with unsettling effect. He bowls an old-school length but his height creates a bounce batters struggle to deal with.

Not that he doesn’t have tricks. In his second over – the fourth of the innings – he hemmed in New Zealand’s semi-final hero Daryl Mitchell with a series of balls close to the stumps and nabbed the outside edge of the bat with a slower ball, which the frustrated batter tried to squeeze through the off-side.

Matthew Wade, who dropped a difficult bottom-edge chance from Glenn Maxwell’s bowling in the previous over, took a good catch to a dying ball that brought the keeper forward.

Hazlewood’s three overs in the power play, as Maxwell, Starc and Pat Cummins rotated from the other end, produced figures of 1-11.

His ability to exploit the difficult early pace of the wicket left New Zealand 1-32 at the same point and that is essentially where the game was lost. Kane Williamson accelerated soon after, but the chance to post a good total had passed.