Australia | Bowler
Josh Reginald Hazlewood is an Australian international cricketer. He is a tall pace bowler known for his accuracy and has been compared to former Australian paceman Glenn McGrath.
| Full Name Josh Reginald Hazlewood | Born January 08, 1991, Tamworth, New South Wales | Age 34y 112d |
| Batting Style Left hand Bat | Bowling Style Right arm Fast medium | Birth Place Tamworth, New South Wales |
| Playing Role Bowler | Height 1.96 m | Nationality Australia |
Early Career & Rise to Prominence
Josh Hazlewood’s cricketing journey began with precocious talent, making his first-class debut at just 17 for New South Wales during the 2008–09 season, becoming the youngest fast bowler to represent the state . His early years were marked by raw potential and a classical approach—emphasizing accuracy over express pace , akin to Glenn McGrath, though not yet in his league . Despite inconsistency in his initial years (e.g., sporadic ODI appearances post-2010), Hazlewood’s dedication to refining his line-and-length discipline caught national selectors’ attention. By the 2013–14 domestic season, he matured into a potent threat, setting the stage for international breakthroughs .
Domestic Career: Building a Foundation
Hazlewood’s domestic exploits laid the groundwork for his international success:
- First-Class Cricket : Representing New South Wales, he mastered swing and seam movement, thriving on Australian pitches. His ability to bowl long spells with relentless accuracy became his hallmark .
- Big Bash League (BBL) : His performances in the BBL honed his T20 skills, particularly developing variations like the knuckleball and off-cutter , which later translated to international success.
- Transition to All-Rounder : While initially seen as a “red-ball specialist,” his domestic campaigns in limited-overs cricket forced critics to reconsider his versatility .
This foundation earned him a surprise ODI debut in 2010, though it took years to cement his place .
International Career: A Modern-Day Legend
Hazlewood’s international career is defined by consistency, adaptability, and comparisons to legends like Glenn McGrath .
Test Cricket Dominance
- Debut Impact : Burst onto the scene in 2014–15 vs. India with a five-wicket haul at the Gabba, signaling his arrival as a new-ball partner to Mitchell Starc .
- Ashes Heroics : Played pivotal roles in the 2017–18 Ashes (regaining the urn) and 2019 Ashes (20 wickets at 21.85 avg), proving his mettle in seamer-friendly English conditions .
- Consistency Metrics : Though lacking McGrath’s strike rate (52.1 vs. Hazlewood’s 57.55), his economy and ability to exploit reverse swing in subcontinental tours showcased adaptability .
Limited-Overs Ups and Downs
- ODI Struggles : Initially overlooked for the 2019 Cricket World Cup, Hazlewood faced questions about his white-ball viability despite stellar Test form .
- T20 World Cup Redemption : Sparked Australia’s 2021 T20 World Cup victory with 11 wickets in 7 matches, leveraging his yorkers and slower deliveries.
- Injury Setbacks : Missed the 2021 WTC Final and parts of 2024 due to niggles, yet remained a cornerstone in Australia’s Ashes campaigns (16 wickets in 2023) .
IPL Journey: Evolution in T20 Cricket
Hazlewood’s IPL career highlights his growth as a strategic T20 bowler :
- Chennai Super Kings (2020–2021) : Deployed as a middle-overs enforcer , he stifled oppositions with pinpoint accuracy and evolved into a death-over specialist, developing variations like the knuckleball.
- Royal Challengers Bangalore (2022–2023) : Retained for two successful seasons, his adaptability shone in high-pressure run chases. However, injuries sidelined him in 2024 .
- Return in 2025 : Rejoining RCB after the 2024 mega-auction, he aims to reclaim his status as one of the IPL’s premier death bowlers, blending experience with tactical nous .
His IPL stint underscored his ability to thrive in franchise cricket’s cutthroat environment, a stark contrast to his earlier “Test-only” reputation .
Global T20/T10 Leagues: Beyond the IPL
While the IPL dominates his T20 narrative, Hazlewood’s global footprint extends to:
- Big Bash League (BBL) : His BBL performances (post-2010) were instrumental in refining his T20 craft, particularly under pressure scenarios .
- T20 World Cup Triumphs : A key figure in Australia’s 2021 and 2023 campaigns, his ability to dismantle top orders (e.g., dismissing Virat Kohli) highlighted his clutch performances .
- T10 Adaptation? : Though not explicitly mentioned, his skillset (line-and-length, variations) aligns with T10’s demands, suggesting untapped potential in shorter formats .
Legacy & Comparisons to Glenn McGrath
While Hazlewood is often likened to McGrath for his classical approach and Lord’s prowess , he carves his own path:
- Accuracy Over Pace : Lacks McGrath’s raw speed but compensates with unerring lines and lateral movement .
- Evolution : Unlike McGrath, who peaked later, Hazlewood has adapted across formats and surfaces, cementing his status as a modern-day great .
Josh Hazlewood Career Stats
Bowling
| Format | Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 72 | 135 | 14817 | 6857 | 279 | 6/67 | 9/79 | 24.57 | 2.77 | 53.1 | 11 | 12 | 0 |
| ODIs | 91 | 90 | 4737 | 3763 | 138 | 6/52 | 6/52 | 27.26 | 4.76 | 34.3 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| T20Is | 52 | 52 | 1186 | 1481 | 67 | 4/12 | 4/12 | 22.10 | 7.49 | 17.7 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| FC | 114 | 210 | 22185 | 10231 | 424 | 6/35 | 9/79 | 24.12 | 2.76 | 52.3 | 17 | 14 | 0 |
| List A | 143 | 141 | 7575 | 6029 | 217 | 7/36 | 7/36 | 27.78 | 4.77 | 34.9 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| T20s | 117 | 117 | 2645 | 3346 | 154 | 4/12 | 4/12 | 21.72 | 7.59 | 17.1 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
Batting & Fielding
| Format | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s | Ct | St |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 72 | 88 | 45 | 510 | 39 | 11.86 | 1180 | 43.22 | 0 | 0 | 73 | 2 | 28 | 0 |
| ODIs | 91 | 35 | 27 | 131 | 23* | 16.37 | 161 | 81.36 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 30 | 0 |
| T20Is | 52 | 10 | 7 | 29 | 13* | 9.66 | 27 | 107.40 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 0 |
| FC | 114 | 134 | 58 | 859 | 43* | 11.30 | 1989 | 43.18 | 0 | 0 | 124 | 4 | 44 | 0 |
| List A | 143 | 56 | 35 | 238 | 30 | 11.33 | 345 | 68.98 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 5 | 43 | 0 |
| T20s | 117 | 23 | 18 | 71 | 13* | 14.20 | 82 | 86.58 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 19 | 0 |
Josh Hazlewood T20 Stats
Bowling
| Tournament | Teams | Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPL | 2 teams | 37 | 37 | 824 | 1121 | 53 | 4/25 | 4/25 | 21.15 | 8.16 | 15.5 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| BBL | SS | 19 | 19 | 426 | 536 | 26 | 3/16 | 3/16 | 20.61 | 7.54 | 16.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| CLT20 | SS | 6 | 6 | 144 | 113 | 7 | 3/22 | 3/22 | 16.14 | 4.70 | 20.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Batting & Fielding
| Tournament | Teams | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s | Ct | St |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPL | 2 teams | 37 | 7 | 7 | 19 | 7* | – | 29 | 65.51 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| BBL | SS | 19 | 5 | 3 | 17 | 12* | 8.50 | 16 | 106.25 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| CLT20 | SS | 6 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 3 | 0 |
Debut/Last Matches of Josh Hazlewood
Test Matches
Debut
Australia vs India at Brisbane – December 17 – 20, 2014
Last
Australia vs India at Brisbane – December 14 – 18, 2024
ODI Matches
Debut
England vs Australia at Southampton – June 22, 2010
Last
Australia vs Pakistan at Adelaide – November 08, 2024
T20I Matches
Debut
Australia vs West Indies at Brisbane – February 13, 2013
Last
England vs Australia at Southampton – September 11, 2024
FC Matches
Debut
N Zealanders vs NSW at Sydney – November 13 – 16, 2008
Last
Australia vs India at Brisbane – December 14 – 18, 2024
List A Matches
Debut
NSW vs Tasmania at North Sydney – November 15, 2009
Last
Australia vs Pakistan at Adelaide – November 08, 2024
T20 Matches
Debut
NSW vs Tasmania at Hobart – December 30, 2009
Last
DC vs RCB at Delhi – April 27, 2025
2025 IPL TEAM
Delhi Capitals Sunrisers Hyderabad Rajasthan Royals Chennai Super kings Gujrat Titans Kolkata knight Riders Lucknow Super Giants Mumbai Indians Punjab Kings Royal Challengers Bengaluru