IPL 2021: Shane Watson draws parallels between Josh Hazlewood and Glenn McGrath ahead of final night

CSK will be playing their final against KKR on October 15 in Dubai after Kolkata dominated DC in a thriller in Sharjah. Ahead of the much-awaited clash, former Australian batter, Shane Watson has lauded CSK pacer, Josh Hazlewood. Watson added that he loves Hazlewood’s control and perfect line and length that he maintains. He went on to draw parallels between Hazlewood and legendary Glenn McGrath.

Watson is of the opinion that though Hazlewood is relatively young but he provides glimpses of McGrath with perfect accuracy in reference to how much ball swings and seams. The former batter added that Hazlewood has been doing so from a long back and it won’t be of any surprise if he brings out a match-changing spell in the final night of IPL 2021 against KKR.

“For me, the thing that I have loved about Josh Hazelwood is the control that he has of the ball coming out of his fingers, and that’s along the lines of what Glenn McGrath did. The control that he (McGrath) has on how much the ball swings or which way the ball seams, Josh had that even from a young age, so that for me was one of the comparisons. Yes, Glenn McGrath, his accuracy, time and time again his ability to keep doing it again is something that not many fast bowlers ever had, but that’s one of the similarities for me with Josh Hazelwood,” said former Australian batsman Shane Watson Star Sports’ Live feed of Select Dugout.

Josh Hazlewood is incredibly good with just being able to get something out of the wicket: Watson

Watson stated how Hazlewood will be a very hard bowler to deal with in the current conditions of the UAE. He is incredibly good in getting something out of the wicket with his great variation or something that he does in the air, reckoned the former CSK batter.

“Just his control over the ball coming out of his hand, that’s why when there’s a little bit dew in the wicket or with the brand new ball, he’s incredibly good with just being able to get something out of the wicket. Just with enough variation or enough little something out of the wicket or something in the air, which means he’s very hard to play in these conditions too.”