Hazlewood earns more comparisons

As a lanky NSW country boy made good, comparisons with Glenn McGrath were inevitable for Australian quick Josh Hazlewood.

Cricket Australia even got McGrath to present Hazlewood his baggy green before the second Test against India in Brisbane.

But a day after looking more like fragile, injury-plagued Bruce Reid due to cramps, Hazlewood has managed something even McGrath couldn’t achieve on Test debut.

Hazlewood was the toast of a Gabba crowd featuring his rowdy family on Thursday when he took 5-68 to reduce India to 408 on day two of the second Test.

He gained entry to a special club featuring some of Australia’s legendary bowlers – but not 563-Test wicket great McGrath.

Bendemeer-bred Hazlewood became the 33rd Australian to claim a five-wicket haul on Test debut and the first since James Pattinson in 2011.

For the record, McGrath snared 2-92 and 1-50 on Test debut against New Zealand in 1993.

But instead of McGrath, ex-national captain Ian Chappell found parallels with another Australian fast bowling great.

“Dennis Lillee also took five on debut by swinging the ball around like him,” he told the Nine Network.

“And we all know what career he had.

“This has been a terrific debut for Hazlewood.”

His vocal family agreed.

“I was doing handstands up in the grandstand!” his father Trevor told Fox Sports.

But Hazlewood said he was benefiting from the teachings of another in the “five-for club” – Brett Lee.

“I spent a bit of time at the (BBL team) Sixers with Brett Lee, so he’s been great to talk about bowling with over the last few years,” he told Nine Network.

He may be just 23 but a Test debut against India has been a long time coming for Hazlewood.

He was on the 2010 tour of India but withdrew due to a back stress injury.

He have been plagued by injury but no one ever doubted Hazlewood’s class.

He played first grade against men at 15 in Tamworth and became the youngest quick to be picked by NSW at 17.

In 2010 he made his ODI debut at 19 – one of only three Australians to have debuted so young at the time.

He finally forced the Test selectors’ hand with recent ODI hauls of 5-31 and 3-51 against South Africa.

However, Hazlewood’s first Test scalp will go down in infamy.

He snared Cheteshwar Pujara caught behind on Wednesday but replays later showed the ball had clearly hit the Indian’s helmet.

He shook off his cramp dramas to fire on Thursday morning as India lost 6-97.

“I’ve never really cramped before, but the heat yesterday was really tough,” Hazlewood said.

“That was a pretty important time (this morning) – to get a few early ones today was crucial to our success.

“It was a phenomenal time.”

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