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Sam Whiteman, Nathan Lyon and Steve Smith should be in Australia’s starting line-up for this month’s triangular one day international series against South Africa and Zimbabwe.
The Australian selectors will this week announce their squad for the series in Zimbabwe, which starts on August 25.
It will have a fresh look due to the unavailability of opening batsman David Warner, top order strokemaker Shaun Marsh and paceman Nathan Coulter-Nile for the four matches.
Steve Smith and Nathan Lyon deserve to be rewarded for their blossoming performances at Test level, while Australia should look to the future in selecting Western Australia young gun Whiteman to keep wickets instead of Brad Haddin.
The veteran gloveman remains an integral member of Australia’s surging Test side. However, his returns at limited overs level for his country have dwindled. Over the past three years he has averaged just 21 with the bat in ODIs.
This low-profile tournament provides a perfect opportunity to offer Whiteman a soft introduction to international cricket. The 22-year old is shaping as the likely Test successor to Haddin who, at almost 37 years of age, is extremely unlikely to continue in the baggy green longer than another 12 to 18 months.
Giving Whiteman the chance to cement himself as Australia’s ODI keeper should better prepare him for any possible step up to Test ranks.
Australia are facing a significant generational change in their Test team over the following two years. Seven members of their core side from last summer – Haddin, Chris Rogers, Ryan Harris, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Shane Watson and Michael Clarke – are not guaranteed of playing Test cricket in two years’ time.
Australia have blundered through transitional periods in the past – most obviously in the wake of the retirements of Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey, when they soon went nine consecutive Tests without a win.
They should use the ODI team to blood players like Whiteman and gain a sense of whether they can handle the pressure and intensity of international cricket.
While Australia’s ODI top six has been set in stone of late, the withdrawal from the tour of Warner for personal reasons opens the door for Smith.
The 25-year-old has developed swiftly as a Test batsman over the past 12 months and his commanding performances for NSW at 50-over level justify his inclusion.
Smith shapes as a long-term top order batsman in the ODI side once Clarke retires from limited overs cricket, which could well be within the next two years.
Lyon, meanwhile, has been unfairly overlooked by the selectors in the shorter formats. With left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty labouring over the past year and rising slow bowlers like James Muirhead and Cameron Boyce still too raw, Lyon would seem an obvious choice.
While his domestic 50-over record is not inspiring, neither is his Shield record. However, Lyon lifts his bowling to another level when he puts on the baggy green and well may do the same in coloured clothing.
The remainder of Australia’s starting XI picks itself. My selections for the reserve positions were influenced significantly by performances in the recent 50-over series between Australia A, India A, South Africa A and Australia’s National Performance Squad.
Phil Hughes all but guaranteed his spot on the tour with a freewheeling double century for Australia A last week. Similarly, all-rounder Mitch Marsh and quick Kane Richardson leapfrogged their rivals with undeniable efforts in that series.
Marsh underlined his bowling ability by snaring 11 wickets at 17 in four matches before yesterday’s final. His batting talent had already been showcased in the first-class matches against India A when he struck an imperious double century.
Richardson had fallen off the radar somewhat since playing a solitary ODI 18 months ago. However, he bowled with eye-catching pace and earned consistent swing for Australia A during the one-day series, grabbing 12 wickets at an average of 7 in three games prior to the final.
Starting XI
1. Aaron Finch
2. Shane Watson
3. Steve Smith
4. Michael Clarke
5. George Bailey
6. Glenn Maxwell
7. Sam Whiteman
8. James Faulkner
9. Mitchell Johnson
10. Mitchell Starc
11. Nathan Lyon
Reserves
12. Hughes
13. Clint McKay
14. Mitch Marsh
15. Kane Richardson
Fixtures
August 25 – Australia versus Zimbabwe
August 27 – Australia versus South Africa
August 31 – Australia versus Zimbabwe
September 2 – Australia versus South Africa