The news Tamworth and the northern cricket fraternity had been waiting for was confirmed yesterday with the boy from Bendemeer named to make his Test debut in the Second Test against India.

The 23-year-old has twice been 12th man, most recently in the First Test in Adelaide, and was understandably elated.

“I guess there was an inkling I’d get picked but until you hear the words from the selectors...,” he said.

He found out at training yesterday morning and quickly relayed the news to the travelling convoy of father Trevor, mum Ann, sister Casey, brother Aaron and his former Old Boys skipper Ben Middlebrook.

“He just rang me,” Aaron said.

“He was stoked.”

He will become Test player No.440 and Tamworth’s first male Test cricketer since mystery spinner John Gleeson.

Gleeson played 30 Tests for Australia between 1967 and 1972. 

Hazlewood has been earmarked as a Test player since he became the youngest quick to play for NSW at 17.

After making his international one-day debut two years later, he was then selected for the 2010 tour of India but had to withdraw with a lower back stress fracture.

Four years on he’s finally getting his shot, ironically against India.

The boyhood dream of many, for the towering 196cm quick, it was making that NSW team that really planted the seed that he could one day don the baggy green.

“Ever since I first played for the Blues at 17, I always thought I was a chance,” he said.

But he wasn’t expecting it so soon. 

“At 23 to be playing a Test is pretty special,” he said.

It won’t be his first taste out in the middle.

He fielded for skipper Michael Clarke during the second innings in Adelaide.

“It was really good to be out there at Adelaide and field for that last 50 overs,” he said.

Hazlewood is excited by the prospect of an expected juicy Gabba deck.

“It’s looking a lot different this morning to yesterday,” he said.

“The guys who have played Test cricket before there said it is a bit harder and faster early than it usually is. The first day it’s usually a bit slow and quickens up.”

The extra bounce and pace was arguably a factor in his selection, and new skipper Steve Smith is excited about letting Hazlewood “zing a few” down.

“It’s very exciting. I have watched Josh very closely at NSW and he has impressed me every time,” Smith said.

“And I think he is only getting better and better – I think this pitch will suit him perfectly.

“I am looking forward to seeing him zinging a few through.”

So too is older brother Aaron.

He joined the chorus that felt the Gabba deck would suit him.

“It should do with his pace and bounce,” Aaron said.

He knows that pace and bounce all too well from their many hours in the backyard.

“We’d always play until one of us spat the dummy,” he said.

“20 minutes later we’d tur around and be back out there.”

He made the trek across to Perth two years ago when Josh was named in the 12 for the final Test against South Africa and, while he was confident about his chances for Brisbane, he was circumspect.

“I was fairly confident.

“But then I was fairly confident two years ago in Perth,” he said.

It has worked well for him. With his work he couldn’t make Adelaide or Melbourne.

“To see him get that baggy green will be a thrill,” he said.

Middlebrook made the trip with him to Perth two years ago and shared Hazlewood’s excitement.

“It’s just awesome,” he said.

Central North chairman Terry Psarakis echoed similar sentiments.

“It’s fantastic, well-deserved,” he said.

“He’s worked extremely hard to get where he’s got.”

He recounted Josh’s deeds as a young tearaway playing fourth grade.

“I only played one game against him and never had to face him (thankfully),” he said.

“But I remember our fourth graders when he was only 13 years old being frightened of him.”

They weren’t alone. Even his team-mates were scared of facing him in the nets.

He played two years of fourth grade after making his grade debut in third grade.

They were short, Old Boys secretary Scott Abra recalled.

“He scored five in that game and then went back to fourth grade,” Abra said.

Dad Trevor was the fourth grade captain at that time.

“In his first-ever fourth grade game he made 200 or something,” Abra said.

“He played two years in fourth grade.”

“We were going to put him into second grade the following year  but someone got injured and he went into first grade and stayed there.”

And, as they say, the rest is history. 

He became their bowling trump card, and the accolades heaped up – NSW 17s/19s, NSW Country, Australian U19s.