New Delhi: Australia and Chennai Super Kings Pacer Josh Hazlewood have not taken too much goalkeeper at this IPL with only nine scales from eight matches but his compatriot Shane Watson felt that he was a hard bowler to face because of the “control over the ball”.
The 30-year-old Hazlewood is the choice of Bowler CSK in their four goal victory over Delhi’s capital in IPL 1 qualifying on Sunday even though he was not really burned in the tournament with an average of 29.44 and the economy.
“Only the control over the ball comes out of his hand, that’s why when there is a little dew in the goal or with a new ball, he is very good with only being able to get something from the goal,” Watson entered Star Sports’ ‘Select Dugout’ shows.
“Only with enough variations or quite something from the goal or something in the air, which means he is very difficult to play in this condition too,” he said ahead of the Final of the IPL on Friday between CSK and Kolkata Knight Riders.
The former Australian All-Rounder said Hazlewood had similarities with the legendary Fast Bowler Glenn McGrath by the way he controlled the ball.
“Control him (Hazlewood) has a ball that comes out of his fingers, along the line what Glenn McGrath does.
That controls he (McGrath) has how many balls swing or in the direction of the ball stitches, Josh has it even from a young age, so For me is one of the comparisons, “said Watson, said the former CSK player.
“Yes, Glenn McGrath, his accuracy, time and time again his ability to continue to do so again is something that Bowler has never had quickly, but that is one of the similarities for me with Josh Hazlewood.” Since making Australia’s debut in 2010, Hazlewood has taken 212 goals from 55 tests, 93 and 21 scalp each in 56 ODIS and 17 international T20.