The Australian cricket team made history on Tuesday; it was the first time that two teenagers had debuted in the same match.
Patrick Cummins, who took three wickets in the rain-affected match and Mitchell Marsh, who took the key wicket of South African captain Hashim Amla, were playing in their first game.
After the long and drawn out process of the Argus review, it was nice seeing these young guys getting a chance on the international stage, and taking it with both hands.
Many critics are arguing that these young players (Cummins especially) shouldn’t be thrust upon the big stage so early in their young careers. That they should hone their skills in domestic cricket first.
Bowling high speeds of over 140km/hr on a regular basis and being able to swing the ball both ways already shows he has enormous talent; maybe the Aussie selectors should just throw him a baggy green and see what eventuates.
Brett Lee made his debut for Australia at the tender age of 23, and completely ran through the Indian batting line-up.
Cummins has already got the South African batters jumping around; he even had Johan Botha out hit wicket. Other Australian icons made their debuts at a young(ish) age; Ponting at 20, Warne at 22, McGrath at 23 and the current captain, Michael Clarke was 21 when he first played for Australia.
Darren Lehmann, a candidate for the coaching job, famously said he would give up his spot for Clarke in Test side after his flying start.
But who of the current side would give up their spot, and who would replace them? Ponting and Mike Hussey have been stalwarts of the Aussie side in the past decade or so, while Brad Haddin, Doug Bollinger and Ryan Harris aren’t getting any younger.
The potential replacements? Usman Khawaja would surely rate a mention, Shaun Marsh seems to be hitting his straps finally and Callum Ferguson will get a chance if he can keep scoring at a domestic level.
In Marsh, we have a ready-made replacement for Shane Watson, and Steve Smith is another all-round option. Tim Paine is the logical choice for Haddin, while on the bowling front, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood, Ben Cutting along with Cummins will all get their chance to impress.
It just might be that Cummins gets his chance first, and in a couple of weeks in the first Test.
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