15 Quick facts about Josh Hazlewood

From a great Test debut against India in late 2014, Josh Hazlewood has grown as a strong pacer for the Kangaroos. He was initially seen as someone who could contain, but with his ability to swing the ball and nab the batsmen with his consistency and accuracy Hazlewood is now looked to as a wicket-taker and the skipper loves to use him more aggressively. Here are some interesting facts about Josh Hazlewood.

1. Birth:

Josh Reginald Hazlewood was born in the city of Tamworth in New South Wales on 8th January 1991.

2. Schooling:

He went to a small primary school consisting of 30 students of which his brother and sister were also schoolmates and his mother was a teacher. He was startled when he commenced his high school as the strength of the school was 1200 students.

3. Debut record for New South Wales:

At a young age of 17, Hazlewood made his debut for New South Wales when he played New Zealand in a tour match in November 2008. He thus became the youngest pacer to make his debut for New South Wales.

4. 2008 U19 World Cup:

The right-arm pacer featured in the 2008 U19 World Cup and was the youngest member of the Australian squad.

5. ODI debut:

In 2010, Hazlewood played for Australia against England in Southampton marking his ODI debut. By doing so, at the age of 19, he became the youngest Australian to make his ODI debut.

6. 2010 U19 World Cup:

Josh Hazlewood ended the tournament to be the third-highest wicket taker picking up 13 wickets. His best performance came in the final where he took 4 wickets and helped Australia beat Pakistan by 25 runs. He was awarded the Player of the Match in the final.

7. Dream Test debut:

After years of hardwork, he finally got a chance to represent his country in the longest format of the game when he played against India at Brisbane in December 2014. He took 5 wickets in the first innings and two wickets in the second thus taking a fifer on debut.

8. Receiving the Baggy Green from his idol:

Receiving the Baggy Green from a legend is an honour for any cricketer on debut. He was handed the Test cap by his idol, Glenn McGrath. He became the 440th cricketer to represent the Australians in Tests.

9. World Cup 2015 campaign:

Josh Hazlewood played just 5 matches in the World Cup after replacing Pat Cummins but did his best for the Kangaroos by picking 7 wickets in the tournament averaging 25. His impressive bowling skills were on shown in the quarterfinal where he demolished Pakistan picking up 4 wickets for 35 runs.

10. Historic day-night Test:

The historic day-night Test match in November 2015 proved to be historic for the young pacer as well. He took the first ever wicket in a day-night Test match by trapping Martin Guptill leg before wicket. He also ended up picking a fifer in this Test with figures in an innings reading 6/70. He thus was awarded the Player of the Match in that game and achieved yet another record in the encounter.

11. An all-rounder:

Apart from achieving so much in cricket, Hazlewood was a national junior star in track and field sports like discus, shot put and javelin. He also played soccer and ended up playing in his school’s basketball team owing to his feature of being tall.

12. His match-saving knock for NSW:

Hazlewood has shown that he can deliver with the willow if the situation requires. In 2014, he scored a competitive unbeaten 43 in 78 balls against Victoria at the MCG. His brave knock didn’t change the equation with Victoria still winning the match by 9 wickets.

13. Passions outside sports:

Other than cricket and playing sports, he is passionate about cooking. Hazlewood learnt cooking after he moved out of his home.

14. IPL:

He was bought by Mumbai Indians in the 2014 season for Rs.5 million but he pulled out from the next season to keep himself fit for the upcoming season of Australian cricket.

15. ICC award:

Josh Hazlewood was awarded the Emerging Player of the year 2015 in the recently concluded ICC Awards for his consistent performances.