11 Nov 2008

17-year-old picked to play against Black Caps

6:41 pm on 11 November 2008

New South Wales have picked a 17-year old to take on New Zealand in their 4-day cricket match in Sydney starting on Thursday.

Josh Hazlewood will become the youngest fast bowler ever to play for New South Wales and is part of one of the most youthful squads New South Wales have ever chosen.

The 2 metre right-arm bowler is so highly rated by New South Wales that he already holds a full contract with the state, however he has been kept back to allow him to finish his school exams.

He has been likened to his childhood hero Glenn McGrath who, like Hazlewood, was raised in rural New South Wales.

His selection gives the Blues a remarkably young line-up for the tour game - Steven Smith and Phillip Hughes are both 19 and another four players are aged 22 or under.