A security officer stands near the pitch in the rain as the match was stopped due to bad weather during the fourth day's play of the first Ashes cricket test match between England and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane November 24, 2013.
A security officer stands near the pitch in the rain as the match was stopped due to bad weather during the fourth day's play of the first Ashes cricket test match between England and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane November 24, 2013. David Gray

Josh Reginald Hazelwood bowled like a seasoned campaigner and took five wickets on his Test Match debut and showed his more illustrious fast bowling partners how to bowl on the Gabba pitch. He started the day a little wayward, which was understandable as it was his Test Match debut. After lunch, with the initial nerves out of the way, he settled down to immaculate line and length and troubled everybody in Indian batting line up.

His first wicket was a gift from the umpire, who gave the batsman out even though the ball stuck his helmet and not his bat. The rest of his scalps were very similar to each other. Josh Hazelwood bowled in the corridor of uncertainty just outside the batsman's off stump. It was good length most of the time or just short of a good length a few times. He lured the batsmen into a false sense of security by tempting them to either drive the ball or cut it. Either way with the ball just doing enough, it took the outside edge to either the wicketkeeper or the first slip.

Apart from the cricket loving public in Australia, his father's friends will be extremely happy. About nine years ago, while they were in England, they all placed a AU $100 bet that the then 15-year-old Josh Hazelwood would represent the baggy greens at the Test Match level. The odds were 500-1 which now translates to AU $50,000. His father Trevor Hazelwood confirms the story.

"I wish I had had $ 100 on the bet too", he sheepishly adds. At 17 he was the youngest fast bowler to be picked for his domestic side New South Wales. He made his One Day International debut at the age of 19. After being dropped from the national side and suffering injuries he was recalled back last year. He also made his T20 international debut last year.

As a result of Hazelwood's bowling heroics Australia have bowled out India for 408 at the second Test Match. Australia would hope to bat the next couple of days and put on a lot of runs on the board. Then in the Indian second innings bowl them out cheaply to win this Test Match as well.

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