Josh Hazlewood

His promise was clear early. He made his First-class debut for New South Wales at 17, in the 2008-09 season, becoming the youngest fast bowler ever to represent the state. An ODI cap followed unexpectedly in 2010, though he waited three more years for a second one-day international. A productive 2013-14 home summer marked his arrival as a serious contender.

His Test career began in the 2014-15 home series against India, when he took five wickets in an innings on debut at the Gabba. He went on to share the new ball with the left-armer Mitchell Starc, with Hazlewood's discipline on line and length balancing Starc's pace. When Starc was injured, Hazlewood carried a heavier load, and on the subcontinent he relied on reverse swing alongside his accuracy. His first Ashes tour of England in 2015 was a difficult one, but he played a key part in the 2017-18 home Ashes, when Australia won back the urn after five years. That same season he also bowled noticeably quicker, regularly reaching around 87-88 mph.

He was left out of the 2019 Cricket World Cup, yet answered in that year's Ashes with 20 wickets from 4 matches at 21.85. A strong BBL campaign returned him to the white-ball side for the 2021 T20 World Cup, where he collected 11 wickets in 7 games as Australia lifted the trophy. He also featured at the 2022 T20 World Cup, was ruled out of the World Test Championship Final through injury, took 16 wickets in 4 games in the subsequent Ashes, and was picked for the 2023 Cricket World Cup.

In the IPL, Chennai Super Kings signed him in 2020 and used him as a first-change bowler to keep the middle overs tight, a period in which he developed a knuckle ball and refined his off cutters. Released ahead of the mega auction, he joined Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2022 and enjoyed two good seasons there. Injury kept him out of IPL 2024, but he returned to RCB at the following mega auction for the 2025 season.