Former Australia Test cricketer Jason Gillespie lavished high-praise on his national side pacemen Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, expecting both to become the best in business in the fast bowling department, which Australia has produced so far.
“Starc and Hazlewood, without doubt, will be the best fast bowling combination Australia has ever produced,” Gillespie told cricket.com.au.
“They’ll stay fit, they’ll stay healthy, they’re learning their trade all the time, they complement each other very well.”
The prediction might become true sooner or later, but the fans won’t digest it anytime soon till the fast bowling pair do something remarkable in their short cricket career.
Australia, in the past, has seen the fast bowling combination of Merv Hughes, Craig McDermott and Jeff Thomson, Dennis Lillee in the 1960s and 1970s.
Gillespie, former star bowler, had always shown keen interest in the Australian team to do well across all formats.
The duo (of Starc and Hazlewood) are supposed to surpass some of the legends of the game like Glenn McGrath, who took 563 wickets in his 124 Tests.
Gillespie, who is the fifth most successful bowler in Tests for Australia, bagged 259 wickets in 71 Tests – in a span of ten years of his Test career.
“Starc (is a) really fast, aggressive, nose-and-toes attacking option who can swing the ball late at pace. And then you’ve got Hazlewood who is an aggressive bowler but in a different way. He’s aggressive with his relentless line and length, he’s very disciplined,” he added.
In 17 Tests, both have taken 161 wickets alongside each other.
It’s an uphill task for Starc and Hazlewood, but not that impossible when one is being known as a professional cricketer.
“In many years’ time when we’re reflecting on great Australian cricketers, those two (Starc and Hazlewood) will be right up there,” concluded Gillespie.
Here’s the list of best Australian fast bowling duos in at least 25 Tests while playing together with a minimum of 200 wickets in their kitty:
*Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie had shared 484 wickets in 58 Tests.
*Ray Lindwall and Keith Miller had shared 345 wickets in 51 Tests.
*Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle had shared 295 wickets in 38 Tests.
*Merv Hughes and Craig McDermott had shared 241 wickets in 29 Tests.
*Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson had shared 217 wickets in 26 Tests.