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Australia great Glen McGrath believes fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has what it takes to carve out a long and fruitful international career and take more than probably get more than 200 Test wickets. |
Hazlewood captured five wickets on debut against India on the second day of the second Test of the series in Brisbane and McGrath, perhaps Australia’s best-ever pace bowler, is already a big supporter of the 23-year-old.
McGrath said: “If he continues working hard off the field, improving his game, getting fitter and stronger all the time and never being happy with where he is, he’ll get 200 easy. He bowls good areas, bowls a heavy ball, gets bounce on any tracks. He’s going to be good.”
Seen as one of the latest of the next generation of fast bowlers coming through the ranks in Australian cricket, Hazlewood, along with Pat Cummins and James Pattinson, who made there debuts already, could play for many years to come, if it was up to McGrath.
McGrath, who took more than 500 wickets in his Test career, said: “He’s going to be quality. He’s got good control. He may not be quite as quick as Cummins or Pattinson or as in your face aggressive as Patto is, but he’ll put pressure on you the whole time.
“He won’t give you easy runs. He’s prepared to work hard. It’ll be hard work scoring runs off him but he’s going to take wickets.
“He bowled well yesterday, and bowled exceptionally well today. To see him take five-for, I’m really happy and really proud with the way he went about it.”
Herath to miss Test series in New Zealand
Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath will miss his country’s first Test on their tour of New Zealand, which starts on 26 December in Christchurch. Herath suffered a tear to his hamstring before the fifth ODI of the recently completed home series against England. The left-armer missed the final two ODI’s in that series, and it was hoped that he would have recovered in time for the first Test against the Black Caps.
While Herath is definitely out the opening game, he is also fighting to be fit for the second, and final, Test in Wellington on 3rd January. Team Manager, Michael de Zoysa said: “I think Rangana’s struggling to make the second Test as well.”
Sri Lanka will certainly miss Herath, as he is the leading wicket-taker in Test cricket in 2014 with 60 scalps at an average of 27.45.The tourists do have spin-bowling options in the squad. Off-spinner Dilruwan Perera, who has played seven previous Tests, and the uncapped 21-year-old Tharindu Kaushal will be vying to take Herath’s place in the starting line-up.
Sri Lanka start their tour with a two-day warm-up game against a New Zealand Invitational XI starting 21 December. The two-match Test series will be followed by seven ODI’s.
