Often likened to the legendary Glenn McGrath for his unerring accuracy and classical fast-bowling rhythm, Josh Hazlewood has established himself as one of the most dependable seamers of the modern era. With a smooth, economical run-up and a relentless focus on line and length rather than express pace, Hazlewood embodies the textbook definition of a fast bowler—precision over power, control over chaos.

Hazlewood’s prodigious talent was evident from an early age. He made his First-Class debut for New South Wales at just 17, becoming the youngest pace bowler to do so. Although he received a surprise ODI debut in 2010, it wasn’t until several years later—after honing his craft in domestic cricket—that he became a permanent fixture in the national setup. A breakthrough 2013–14 season saw him mature into a complete bowler, and soon after, he was handed his Test debut against India in the 2014–15 series. Hazlewood made an immediate impact, taking five wickets in his debut innings at the Gabba.

Forming one half of Australia’s feared new-ball pairing alongside Mitchell Starc, Hazlewood’s consistency, particularly outside off stump, proved to be the perfect complement to Starc’s raw pace. While Starc attacked, Hazlewood controlled, and the partnership flourished across all formats.

Despite Starc’s frequent injury setbacks, Hazlewood stepped up when required, often leading the attack with composure. His performances at home and abroad—especially in seam-friendly conditions—made him a key weapon in Australia’s pace arsenal. Even in subcontinent conditions, where fast bowlers are often neutralized, Hazlewood found ways to succeed through reverse swing and disciplined bowling.

Although he struggled during the 2015 Ashes in England, Hazlewood bounced back impressively in the 2017–18 Ashes at home, helping Australia reclaim the urn. He continued to be a mainstay in the Test side while also proving effective in ODIs with his relentless accuracy and increasing pace, consistently clocking speeds around 140–142 km/h.

After being controversially left out of Australia’s 2019 World Cup squad, Hazlewood returned with a point to prove. He had a stellar 2019 Ashes campaign, taking 20 wickets at 21.85, reaffirming his value in red-ball cricket. His T20 stock also rose significantly in the years that followed, especially after a strong showing in the Big Bash League.

Hazlewood was a crucial part of Australia’s victorious 2021 T20 World Cup campaign, picking up 11 wickets in 7 matches and emerging as one of the tournament’s most reliable bowlers. His limited-overs renaissance also earned him an IPL contract with Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2022 after a stint with Chennai Super Kings.

In 2023, he was named in Australia’s World Test Championship squad but missed the final due to injury. However, he returned in time for the Ashes series and picked up 16 wickets in 4 matches. Later that year, he was part of Australia’s squad for the 2023 Cricket World Cup.

IPL Through the Years

Initially viewed as a red-ball specialist, Josh Hazlewood gradually proved his credentials in T20 cricket as well. He was signed by Chennai Super Kings in 2020, where he found success as a middle-overs enforcer, offering control and subtle variations. Hazlewood developed key T20 tools during his CSK stint, including a reliable knuckleball and well-disguised off-cutters.

Ahead of the 2022 mega auction, he was picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore, where he continued to evolve as a T20 bowler. His performances across two seasons were impressive, forming a vital part of RCB’s pace attack.

Hazlewood missed the 2024 IPL season due to injury but was re-signed by RCB for the 2025 season at the next mega auction, signalling the franchise's continued faith in his T20 capabilities.