Snapped up by NRL side Penrith Panthers as a youngster, hulking allrounder John Hastings opted for cricket and eventually found himself in Victoria due to limited opportunities with New South Wales.
A qualified PE teacher, Hastings' breakthrough season came in 2009-10 when he was Victoria’s leading wicket-taker in all three formats and named Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year.
His ODI debut followed in October 2010 before he was selected in Australia’s squad for the 2011 World Cup.
After missing the entire 2011-12 season due to a serious shoulder injury, The Duke started the 2012-13 season so well that he earned his Test debut, picking up the wicket of AB de Villiers against South Africa in Perth.
He enjoyed a successful county stint with Durham in 2014, following stints in the Indian Premier League with Chennai Super Kings earlier that year and Kochi in 2011.
Hastings now plays a veteran role for the Bushrangers, and the national ODI team when necessary. His arsenal of variations has built him a reputation of being a top-class death bowler, playing for Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League.