Player Profile
Full Name: Josh Reginald Hazlewood
Born: January 8, 1991 (Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia)
Age: 34 years
Playing Role: Right-arm fast-medium bowler | Left-handed batsman
Height: 1.96 m (6’5″)
Teams: Australia, New South Wales, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Sydney Sixers, Chennai Super Kings
Career Overview
Josh Hazlewood has established himself as one of Australia’s most reliable fast bowlers across all formats. With his McGrath-like accuracy and ability to extract bounce from his 1.96m frame, Hazlewood has been a mainstay in Australia’s bowling attack since his Test debut in 2014.
Early Career & Domestic Cricket
- Made his First-Class debut for New South Wales at just 17 years old (2008-09 season)
- Youngest fast bowler ever selected for NSW at the time
- ODI debut at 19 (vs England, 2010) – one of only three Australian 19-year-olds to play ODIs
- Missed early Test opportunities due to stress fractures but returned stronger
International Career Highlights
Test Cricket
- Debut: December 2014 vs India (Brisbane)
- 100 Test wickets in just 46 innings (2nd fastest Australian after McGrath)
- Career-best 6/67 against South Africa (2016)
- Key role in 2021-23 Ashes & Border-Gavaskar Trophy wins
White-Ball Cricket
- 2015 World Cup winner (Australia)
- 2021 T20 World Cup winner
- 2023 ODI World Cup winner
- Known for death bowling in limited-overs cricket
IPL Career
| Team | Seasons | Matches | Wickets | Best | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSK | 2020-21 | 12 | 15 | 4/25 | 8.51 |
| RCB | 2022-present | 17 | 25 | 4/25 | 7.35 |
| Total | 5 seasons | 29 | 40 | 4/25 | 7.86 |
- 2024 IPL: Leading bowler for RCB with economy under 7.5
- Known for powerplay dominance and death-over variations
Bowling Strengths
✔ Relentless accuracy (McGrath-esque line & length)
✔ Steep bounce from his 6’5″ height
✔ Swing with new ball | Cutters in death overs
✔ Economical in T20s despite being a Test specialist
Career Statistics (2025 Update)
Test Cricket
| Matches | Wickets | Avg | Econ | SR | Best | 5w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 72 | 279 | 24.57 | 2.77 | 53.1 | 6/67 | 12 |
ODI Cricket
| Matches | Wickets | Avg | Econ | SR | Best | 4w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 91 | 138 | 27.26 | 4.76 | 34.3 | 6/52 | 3 |
T20I Cricket
| Matches | Wickets | Avg | Econ | SR | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52 | 67 | 22.10 | 7.49 | 17.7 | 4/12 |
IPL Career
| Matches | Wickets | Avg | Econ | SR | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | 40 | 21.32 | 7.86 | 16.2 | 4/25 |
Recent Performances (2024-25)
- 3/21 vs CSK (IPL 2025)
- 2/22 vs KKR (IPL 2025)
- 4/29 vs India (Perth Test 2024)
- 1/22 vs India (Brisbane Test 2024)
Career Highlights & Awards
🏆 2015 ODI World Cup Winner
🏆 2021 T20 World Cup Winner
🏆 2023 ODI World Cup Winner
🏆 2x Ashes winner (2017-18, 2021-22)
🥇 ICC Test Team of the Year (2020, 2021)
Playing Style Analysis
Hazlewood’s success stems from his:
- Relentless line outside off-stump (Test match style in T20s)
- Height-generated bounce even on flat pitches
- Knack for breaking partnerships
- Improved variations (slower balls, cutters) in white-ball cricket
Future Prospects
At 34, Hazlewood remains:
- Key bowler for Australia in Test cricket
- Death-over specialist for RCB in IPL
- Mentor for young Australian quicks (Spencer Johnson, Lance Morris)
His experience and accuracy make him invaluable in:
- 2025 Ashes (England)
- 2026 T20 World Cup (India)
Conclusion: One of Australia’s Greatest Modern Fast Bowlers
Josh Hazlewood’s Test match discipline in T20 cricket makes him unique among modern pacers. While he may not have Starc’s pace or Cummins’ all-round skills, his metronomic accuracy has made him Australia’s most dependable bowler across formats.
Can he guide RCB to an IPL title in 2025? His performances will be crucial for both Australia and RCB in the coming seasons.
FAQs About Josh Hazlewood
Q: Why is Hazlewood compared to Glenn McGrath?
A: Due to his similar height, accuracy, and Test-match style bowling in all formats.
Q: Which IPL team has Hazlewood performed best for?
A: RCB (25 wickets in 17 matches at 7.35 economy).
Q: What is Hazlewood’s best bowling performance?
A: 6/52 vs England (ODIs) and 6/67 vs South Africa (Tests).
Q: How many World Cups has Hazlewood won?
A: Three (2015 ODI WC, 2021 T20 WC, 2023 ODI WC).
Q: Is Hazlewood playing in IPL 2025?
A: Yes, for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
