Wests Indies great Brian Lara says Josh Hazlewood is mirroring the threat of Glenn McGrath

Brian Lara has given Josh Hazlewood the ultimate compliment that his menace is mirroring the threat once posed by Lara’s greatest rival, Glenn McGrath.

Brian Lara has given Josh Hazlewood the ultimate compliment that his menace is mirroring the threat once posed by Lara’s greatest rival, Glenn McGrath.

The West Indian returned to the nets for Fox Cricket during the Adelaide Test to bat against a ball machine that was set on the delivery patterns of the Australian quicks and it convinced Lara of something he had long suspected – Hazlewood is a new-model McGrath.

It’s high praise because McGrath dismissed Lara 14 times in Tests.

The battle was more even than that number suggests for Lara averaged an excellent 46 in 24 Tests against McGrath, including six centuries.

In Australia’s golden decade between 1995-2005, few players did better against them than Lara.

All up, Lara averaged 51 against Australia in 31 Tests.

McGrath once said he found Lara harder to bowl to than Sachin Tendulkar because “he didn’t change his game and kept attacking. He was fearless.’’

Josh Hazlewood has been compared to Glenn McGrath. Picture: AFP

Lara found McGrath’s relentless line and length challenging and watching lanky right-armer Hazlewood take 9-79 against the West Indies in Adelaide with his slick, grinding seam bowling was like a journey back in time.

“All that reminds me of McGrath,’’ said Lara, who will be part of the Fox team in Brisbane.

“That is why I feel he is the hardest. He comes from a high trajectory. You just know he will hit an area of the pitch that puts you on the defensive.

“As an aggressive player I wanted to be the aggressor. McGrath tested that – and so does Hazlewood.

“I’m not taking anything away from Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, who are outstanding bowlers, but I know I would find Hazlewood the toughest.

Glenn McGrath had a great record against Brian Lara.

“I have seen him in the IPL and for quite a few years. It struck me that that was the guy who is going to give me the most trouble. He is just going to hit a length.

“He knows if you are a good driver of the ball he is not going to come searching. He is going to stick to the areas where he is going to restrict you and frustrate you.’’

While claiming the West Indies’ two-day-and-one-session loss in Adelaide was “substandard’’, Lara was encouraged by the bowling of pace discovery Shamar Joseph and a fighting half century from Kirk McKenzie.

“Shamar Joseph had a tremendous game and lit up the Caribbean,’’ he said. “McKenzie looked good for a 50.

“But teams are built on partnerships with bat and ball and there were not enough of them.

“Yes, there were some good individual performances but I didn’t see those team efforts where, even with bowling, one was attacking from one end and the other defending.

“I felt one of the positives was the way they picked up wickets. They can take away the fact that in Brisbane, with a pink ball, the wicket could be very sporty and they should bowl well. But batting will be tough again.’’

Originally published as Wests Indies great Brian Lara says Josh Hazlewood is mirroring the threat of Glenn McGrath