“If he can get there and do that, I’d be one of the happiest guys for him”
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Iconic Australia pace bowler Glenn McGrath believes that seamer Josh Hazlewood is capable of taking more wickets than him and becoming the best fast bowler the country has ever produced.
McGrath ended his illustrious career with 563 Test wickets, while Hazlewood took his 100th on the third day of the second Test against Pakistan in Melbourne on Wednesday. Having reached the triple figure mark in wickets taken in the longest format, Hazlewood became only the fourth bowler after Graham McKenzie, Shane Warne and Craig McDermott to pick up 100 wickets aged 25 or younger.
In order for Hazlewood to put himself into a league of his own though, McGrath pointed out that the 25-year-old has to stay fit and keep working hard both on and off the pitch.
“The challenge is there. If he can get there and do that, I’d be one of the happiest guys for him,” McGrath told cricket.com.au. “Records are there to be chased down and be beaten and that (is a) little carrot to keep guys going.
“To play 100-plus Tests and get 560-odd wickets like I took, if he can get there, then he’d have done pretty well. He’s only a young fella … but it’s up to him how far he goes.
“If he keeps up a good work ethic off the field … to keep strong, to keep fit. If he does that and stays very disciplined, who knows where he could get to?”
While Hazlewood has enjoyed a meteoric rise since making his Test debut in December 2014, he pointed out that he was disappointed with his performance in the 2015 Ashes series, where he took 16 wickets at an average of 25.75.
McGrath feels that a county cricket stint prior to the next Ashes series in England in 2019 would be hugely beneficial for Hazlewood, but conceded that it may not be possible due to the hectic international schedule.
“I think it’s pretty tough to do that,” McGrath said. “Back when I played I had a few opportunities to play county cricket and I think it was really good for me.
“Josh has had a taste of English cricket and unfortunately he didn’t do as well as he would have liked. I thought he would have done really well in English conditions, but I think he changed a few things. He was running in wider and looking to swing the ball and coming around himself rather than over the top.
“I think he’s now sorted that out … so I think next time he goes to England, he’ll really enjoy it.
“If he can go over there (for the Champions Trophy), bowl well and get his confidence up, that will kick-start him for the next Ashes.”