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Australia’s veteran pace attack ran rampant in this summer’s Ashes. But with Ryan Harris, Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle deep into their careers, which young tearaways will compete to replace them in the coming years?
Following on from my recent analysis of Australia’s best batting prospects, I have identified the eight best Australian pacemen aged 24 or younger.
I have then ranked them based on who has the best chance of making an impact in Tests over the next decade.
Part one looks at the players I ranked from five to eight.
5. James Faulkner (TAS, 23 years old) – 142 first-class wickets at an average of 23
For the moment, Faulkner is viewed by the selectors as the leading backup Test all-rounder to Shane Watson.
Despite boasting a striking first-class haul of 142 wickets at 23, Faulkner currently is not considered a frontline bowling option.
With Harris, Siddle and Johnson dominating and express-pace strike bowlers James Pattinson and Mitchell Starc waiting in the wings, this is understandable.
Faulkner’s reputation with the blade is growing in line with his stunning deeds at ODI level for Australia.
He does, however, remain a bowling all-rounder. His gifts with ball in hand should not be overshadowed.
Faulkner is a somewhat unusual first-class bowler whose offerings are eclectic.
He is capable of swinging the ball in either direction, bowls crafty cutters and also has several effective slower balls.
He shapes as a perfect foil to the likes of Starc and Pattinson in the future as a clever and reliable first-change seamer.
Faulkner could well inherit that role from Peter Siddle at some point in the next three to four years.
6. Gurinder Sandhu (NSW, 20 years old) – 22 first-class wickets at 26
The fact Sandhu ranks only sixth on this list is an indication of the phenomenal depth of young pace talent in Australia.
The lanky quick completed a remarkable debut season last summer by claiming the Steve Waugh Medal as his state’s best cricketer.
Sandhu pipped seasoned performers Brad Haddin and Trent Copeland to claim the award on the strength of just two Shield matches and four Ryobi Cup appearances.
Standing 195cm and possessed of a strong, high action, Sandhu extracts steepling bounce from most surfaces.
While he may not possess the same pace as some of Australia’s other emerging quicks, he is a probing bowler who gets enough movement through the air and off the deck to undo batsmen.
Like Pattinson, Starc and Pat Cummins before him, Sandhu appears likely to be introduced to international cricket through the limited overs formats.
In a brief period of time he has already earned a reputation as one of the elite fast bowlers in the domestic limited overs competitions, having snared 47 wickets at 21 combined across 50-over and T20 cricket.
7. Josh Hazlewood (NSW, 23 years old) – 67 first-class wickets at 28
Before Pattinson, Starc and Cummins, Josh Hazlewood was the next big thing in Australian cricket.
It is easy to forget he is only 23 years old.
The right-armer was just 17 when he earned his first-class debut for NSW against New Zealand in 2008 – the youngest fast bowler to represent the state in history at the time.
Eighteen months later, he became one of the youngest quicks ever to play for Australia when he took on England in an ODI at Southampton.
Then he fell off the radar.
After that initial international cap almost three years passed before Hazlewood was given another opportunity to represent Australia.
Like most developing pacemen, his maturing body suffered a host of injuries, rarely allowing him to string together long sequences of games.
But the 196cm New South Welshmen finally appears to be in consideration for the Test team.
Prior to this summer’s Ashes series, Hazlewood was identified by the national selectors as one of eight quicks being monitored for potential Test appearances, alongside Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Johnson, Ben Hilfenhaus, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Clint McKay and Chadd Sayers.
That was no great surprise for there is plenty to like about Hazlewood – he has an uncomplicated action, is a genuine strike bowler and can nudge the speed gun beyond 145kmh.
He may yet realise the enormous potential that was identified by the NSW selectors in 2008.
8. Jason Behrendorff (WA, 23 years old) – 39 first-class wickets at 28
This left arm swing merchant has been one of the bolters of the domestic summer so far.
He has proved potent in the Sheffield Shield, reaping 16 wickets from his four matches for WA.
Behrendorff has worked his way up the ranks since being recruited to Western Australia from the ACT in 2009.
A consistently effective new ball bowler at district level in Perth the past few seasons, he is beginning to make a strong impression on the domestic scene.
He has displayed impressive versatility by adapting well to all three forms of the game this summer.
He shapes as an attractive T20 option for Australia in the short term and could well come into Test contention should he continue his development in the Shield this season and next.
Honourable Mentions: Cameron Gannon (Queensland), Kane Richardson (SA), Sam Rainbird (TAS).