Right-armer has become the talk of the short format in recent times owing to a shifted focus, a brilliant skillset, and increased 'time on task'
The simple secret behind Hazlewood's T20 rise
Josh Hazlewood has never been one to overcomplicate matters, and the secret behind his rise to becoming Australia's most wanted T20 bowler is pretty simple, too.
True to character, Hazlewood said his first purchase with his $A1.44 million Indian Premier League pay packet – the second-largest sum forked out for an Australian during the weekend's mega-auction – will likely be a caravan for his dad to drive around the country.
"I was just sitting at home watching on the couch," Hazlewood said of the auction. "It's a strange thing to sit through, when your name comes up and then the bidding starts. It happens pretty quickly."
His performances in the first two Dettol T20 Internationals against Sri Lanka underlined why a five-way bidding war (eventually won by Royal Challengers Bangalore) broke out over the right-arm quick, whose metronomic style was once regarded as being too predictable for the shortest format.
Hazlewood returned his best-ever T20I figures in the series opener, taking 4-12 in a suffocating spell, before capping another devastating haul of 3-22 on Sunday evening with a match-sealing Super Over that went for just five runs.
"Everyone wants to bowl those difficult overs and really nail them," he said. "That's when you get put up in lights for things like the IPL. It's good to be the man."
Had Glenn Maxwell held on to a catch off Pathun Nissanka off Hazlewood in the penultimate over, the match would likely have been decided then.
The 31-year-old Blues quick nonetheless held his nerve when thrown the ball by Aaron Finch after scores finished level, proving unhittable in a clinical deciding over.
"The way 'Hoff' (Hazlewood) bowled that last over was extraordinary," wicketkeeper Matthew Wade told cricket.com.au.
"(It is) the best I've seen him bowl in T20 for a long time. His 50-over stuff has always been excellent, his Test cricket (as well).
"This is the one (format) he probably hasn't mastered until the last two years."
One of the world's leading quicks in the Test arena over the past decade, Hazlewood went nearly four years without playing a single T20 match.
An unexpected benefit of Australia's reluctance to play Test cricket abroad since the onset of the pandemic has been Hazlewood's increased exposure to the shortest format.
"Time on task is an amazing thing and the opportunity for him to play T20 cricket has come, there's been gaps with limited Test tours overseas," said interim Australia coach Andrew McDonald.
"If you give a highly-skilled bowler a chance in the format, he'll work it out."
The three chapters of Josh Hazlewood's T20 career
Dec 2009 – Mar 2016: Games: 30 | Overs: 115.5 | W: 37 | Ave: 24.35 | Econ: 7.80
Mar 2016 – Jan 2020: Games: 0 | Overs: 0
Jan 2020 – Feb 2022: Games: 33 | O: 133.4 | W: 48 | Ave: 19.60 | Econ: 7.05
Notably, Hazlewood has now played more T20s (domestic and international) over the past two years than he did in the entire first decade of his career.
The scheduling of two T20 World Cups in as many years saw the right-armer make 20-over cricket a greater priority during the 2019-20 summer.
That has since paid off with titles with Sydney Sixers in BBL|10, Chennai Super Kings last year and then Australia's drought-breaking World Cup crown in the UAE last November.
"Just learning what to bowl at what times to what batters," Hazlewood said when asked to pinpoint his biggest improvement as a T20 bowler.
"I know it sounds reasonably simple, but I think doing that planning before the games and knowing who's who, where their strengths are and where to bowl (is crucial).
"That probably gives you a little bit more leeway on execution – if you know where their weaknesses are and where their strengths are.
"Executing is the number one thing. Hitting those yorkers as I did at the end, mixing it up and having a few changes of pace to lefties and righties. It's different all the time and depends on the wickets as well.
"It's a combination of everything but consecutive games and series just to put it into practice, it just gives you that confidence that you can do it."
Dettol T20 Series v Sri Lanka 2022
Australia squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head*, Moises Henriques, Josh Inglis, Ben McDermott, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Daniel Sams, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa * unavailable for first three matches
Sri Lanka squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Chamika Karunaratne, Janith Liyanage, Kamil Mishara, Ramesh Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Thushara, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Praveen Jayawickrama, Shiran Fernando
Game 1: Australia won by 20 runs (DLS)
Game 2: Australia won in a Super Over
February 15: Third T20, Manuka Oval, 7.10pm AEDT
February 18: Fourth T20, MCG, 7.10pm AEDT
February 20: Fifth T20, MCG, 5.10pm AEDT
All matches broadcast exclusively on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports. Radio coverage by ABC Grandstand, Triple M and SEN