From humble beginnings Josh Hazlewood sprung - growing to 196 centimetres and morphing into an elite fast bowler.
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On Friday at Adelaide Oval, when Australia and Pakistan meet in the second and final Test of their series, the Bendemeer-raised top bloke of Aussie cricket will join an exclusive club: becoming only the 14th Australian quick to play 50 Tests.
And getting there, he said, was harder than he had thought it would be.
I didn't know it was going to be this hard
- Josh Hazlewood
In an interview with cricket.com.au published this week, the 28-year-old said: "I didn't know it was going to be this hard." He had been asked what advice he would give to his younger self.
He continued: "You learn patience. You bowl in the nets all the time and you try and take two or three wickets and you're only bowling for half an hour.
"Once you get into Test cricket, it's about building that pressure and patience and working on it all day.
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"And a side is never going to roll over. That's a big one. That patience stands out for me."
Hazlewood - whose parents, Trevor and Anne, still live in Bendemeer - made his Test debut against India at the Gabba in 2014. As Australia romped to an innings win, he claimed 5-68 and 6-109 for the match.
In 49 Tests, he has taken 190 wickets at an average of 26.30.
The other Australian fast bowlers to play at least 50 Tests include Glenn McGrath, Dennis Lillee, Ray Lindwall, Keith Miller, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle and Mitchell Johnson.
Hazlewood has been compared to McGrath, the most successful fast bowler ever, with 563 wickets.
The Bendemeer Bullet, as Hazlewood is known, took 6-109 for the match in Australia's comfortable first Test defeat of Pakistan at the Gabba last week.
It was a continuation of his excellent form from the preceding Ashes tour of England, where he took 20 wickets after controversially being omitted from the first Test.