The dust has now settled on a dreamy summer of Test triumphs. A Sheffield Shield has gone to New South Wales for only the 46th time, and a peculiar list of Cricket Australia contracts has been awarded.
Amid this hazy euphoria and fun there is a question that keeps plaguing me: where is our Test team going?
The fact that many of our stars are ageing has been very well documented on The Roar in the past.
There are some obvious candidates such as Chris Rogers, Brad Haddin and Ryan Harris, who will probably retire in the next 12 to 18 months.
Add to that Mitchell Johnson, who might find his ageing body struggling to bowl 150-plus missiles in two years time, and Shane Watson, whose selection luck will probably eventually run out.
We could have a very different looking Test team come 2016.
The most promising aspect about our future is that we probably have the best ready-made quiver of devastating fast bowlers in the world.
I’m going to bluntly say it now that Jackson Bird should be the leader of the Australian attack in 2016.
I already think he’s one of our best. Selectors have been desperately searching the country far and wide for the next Shane Warne and seem to have almost forgotten that our next Glenn McGrath is bashing on their door.
Bird is tall, has impeccable line and length and attacks the stumps with incredible consistency.
He has been held back by some untimely injuries, but possesses the best first class record of all the current quicks. He has taken 115 wickets from only 24 matches, has an average of 20.48 and possesses and unbelievable strike rate of 41.6.
My next two favourite quicks for the team of 2016 were born only four days apart and share the same name. James Faulkner and James Pattinson are extremely talented individuals and will hopefully be regulars in our Test team for the best part of the next decade.
Faulkner currently averages 23.16 with the ball and strikes at 46.2, while Pattinson averages 24.19 and has a strike rate of 45.7. Both men are also no mugs with the bat either and are already racking up valuable international experience.
These guys are my big three of the future.
Peter Siddle has been great but I don’t see him lasting much longer in the Test side – there are simply better fast bowlers around now.
If any of my big three were to stumble however, there will be a big pool of fine fast bowlers preying on any opportunity.
Mitchell Starc has had fantastic short-form success, but is yet to prove he’s cut out for Tests. Pat Cummins will hopefully eventually stop his horrid run of injuries and we might see more of the debut brilliance he produced in South Africa a few years ago.
There’s much to like about the rest too, which could include Jason Behrendorff, Josh Hazelwood, Ben Cutting, Trent Copeland and Chadd Sayers.
In terms of spinners, the selectors badly need to stick with Nathan Lyon for a while and give a tweaker a decent chance to shine in the post-Warne era. Ashton Agar, James Muirhead and Steve O’Keefe are lurking though.
The question of who will be wielding the willow in Australia’s top six in two years time is almost anyone’s guess though.
Unlike the plethora of bowlers we seem to have at the moment, there aren’t many domestic batsmen thumping on the door of Test selection.
Man of the season Marcus North is now out of the contest as a result of his reasonably early retirement, and I have question marks hanging over Phil Hughes.
Hughes has arguably been the best batsman in the Shield over the past few seasons and averages higher than pretty much all his competitors. I’m waiting to see if he has the ability to convert domestic form into bulk international runs when he comes up against smarter attacks, who will once again attempt to exploit his technique flaws.
Usman Khawaja is in a similar category to Hughes. He has been tried and failed at Test level but reminded us once again of his great potential this season with his match winning 182 not out against South Australia.
I recently wrote a column for The Roar as to why Glenn Maxwell should play Test cricket and possibly take the number six spot.
The other three batsmen Cricket Australia need to be keeping a close eye on in the next few years are Nic Maddinson, Jordan Silk and Chris Lynn.
I first saw Maddinson play as a ten-year-old and he was already playing straight drives along the ground for four. The guy was a child cricketing genius. He’s been touted by all sorts of critics as one of the best young talents in Australia ever since he debuted for New South Wales at 18. Let’s hope he finds more consistency in his game and starts to dominate the Shield.
Silk and Lynn are still very inexperienced on the domestic scene but already have impressive centuries next to their name. Silk is building a reputation for being one of the best fielders in Australia and Lynn certainly shined in BBL04.
In regards to players like Shaun Marsh, Alex Doolan and George Bailey – sorry boys but I think there’s greater talent on the way. Besides, Marsh has a greater duck per centage in Test matches than Glenn McGrath.
The 2016 Australian Test team could look quite different to now but has very bright prospects. Here are my picks:
David Warner
Phil Hughes
Steve Smith (VC)
Michael Clarke (C)
Nic Maddinson
Glenn Maxwell
Sam Whiteman (WK)
James Faulkner
James Pattinson
Nathan Lyon
Jackson Bird
Bearfax
Guest
Er Tom What about Burns and Lynn. Both are young and have better first class averages than Cowan, Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Silk, Carters, Doolan, Maddinson and Maxwell. And how did Turner get into this lot. Replace Shaun Marsh with Burns. Doolan with Lynn and probably Ahmed or Agar with Turner and I could almost like your selections.
Tom Miller
Guest
This is my team for the Australian Test Team in the 2016-17 test series. I think Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris & Chris Rodgers time is running out. They will have retired or will retire after ASHES in 2015. Mitchell Johnson & Michael Clarke wont make this test series. Shane Watson will either start scoring runs or get dropped and even if Siddle returns he will retire before this time. This is my XI Age at this time is in (brackets) David Warner (30) Ed Cowan (34) Usman Khawaja (30) Shaun Marsh (33) Steve Smith (C) (27) Mitch Marsh (25) Matt Wade (vc)(wk) (28) James Pattinson (26) Pat Cummins (23) Nathan Lyon (29) Josh Hazzlewood (25) Back up roles are..... Jordan Silk Ryan Carters Alex Doolan Aston Turner Nic Maddinson Glen Maxwell Sam Whiteman (wk) James Fukner Ben Cutting Mitchell Starc Jackson Bird
Squishy
Guest
David Warner Jordan Silk Nick Maddinson Shaun Marsh (vc) Steven Smith (c) Mitchell Marsh Sam Whiteman (Wk) Mitchell Johnson Patrick Cummins Nathan Lyon Jackson Bird
ausfanboy
Guest
my australian test team for 2016 DAVID WARNER PHIL HUGHES JORDAN SILK TRAVIS HEAD STEVE SMITH (CAPTAIN) SAM WHITEMAN (WICKETKEEPER) MITCHELL MARSH PATRICK CUMMINS MITCHELL STARC JAMES PATTINSON JOSH HAZLEWOOD
ausfanboy
Guest
my test 11 for 2016 david warner phil hughes joe burns (needs to be quite more consistent) travis head steve smith (captain) mitch marsh sam whiteman (wicket keeper) james pattinson mitchell starc patrick cummins josh hazlewood *the last 4 will be playing only if all 4 are injury-free
Vijay
Guest
I agree with your pick except that Nick Maddinson should open with David Warner and Silk Jordon should replace Phil Hughes. Thanks.
Matthew Buxton
Roar Pro
I think if Patty Cummins stays injury free he is definitely the next big thing. Bowling out one of the greatest of all time in Kallis at 19 on debut is quite a stepping stone..
Danny
Guest
It is hard to say because we dont know if clarkes back will hold, keeping issue and injury but say all goes well my team: XI TEAM: 1. David Warner 2. Phil Hughes 3. Steve Smith (VC) 4. Michael Clarke (C) 5.Glenn Maxwell 6. George Bailey 7. Mathew wade (Big question mark on keeping, hard to say now) 8. Mitchel Johnson (If his body can still cope) 9. James Pattinson-James Faulkner 10. Jackson Bird 11. Nathan lyon-or another decent spiner who may come through I don't think Harris will last and some people on that list may not last, but i don't think some people are made for tests, watson is going downhill, to injury prone and not doing good enough to stay as just a batsmen,
Deep Thinker
Guest
Interesting point. I am always bemused why selectors pick style over substance. It is a fickle game when that is what is keeping you out of the team. Think about what Chanderpaul has achieved, Lyon has been admirable, but for this team to really shine, we need more than that. He may become a genuine test weapon, but the test team is not driving school. If they think O'keefe is better, they should place O'keefe. There is a precedent. They dropped Healy for Gilchrist and never looked back. I think O'keefe is better.
Samuel Gates
Roar Pro
I've explained in a few of the comments that it might be wise to protect Maddinson down the order at the start of his career so he can have time to find his feet in Test cricket. The selectors did the same thing with Ponting. I want Maddinson to eventually bat in the top three. For this side it actually breaks up the left-handers in the order too. Smith has mostly batted at five in the side lately and has shown great responsibility batting at number three in recent digs for NSW. I think in two years time he will have the maturity to handle a number three spot and the Vice Captaincy for Australia.
ozinsa
Guest
Maddinson is a top order player. If he's the best 1/2/3 then he bats there. If he's not, he isn't in the team. Clarke at 5. It's where he scores runs. Any why would we move Smith from 6 where he is killing it? The idea that you can simply shove guys up and down the order to suit your preferences is ridiculous.
Andy
Guest
I don't see why everyone is including Maddinson, Lynn and Silk, who are all unproven in the shield. What about some of the more experienced guys like Ferguson and Forrest, who both had pretty good shield seasons, or Ryan Carters who had a great season? Or Joe Burns as Baggy_Green rightly says.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
They are separated by how they look when they bowl.
Bearfax
Guest
Good point Baggy. But I think Burns needs to make some big statements in the next year. His performances have been good but not stand out and its those stand out innings that seem to get the media and public talking. He's a god solid batsman with years of developing, but he needs now to take his batting to the next level if he wants to be seriously considered for a test side.
Baggy_Green
Roar Pro
It is unbelievable how everybody conveniently forgets Joe Burns.. Of all the teams mentioned here, not one has him :) I think he is a mighty fine long form batsman who should be the next in line for the test spot now..
Bearfax
Guest
Tend to agree with you Jammel. He is one of those players who does extraordinary things in one match, and then you dont hear from him for several matches. He is Shaun Marsh's equivalent as an all rounder. Does some remarkable things but his consistency needs a great deal of work. Mind you unlike Marsh, he is still young enough to make a statement.
jammel
Guest
Samuel - I don't think Henriques should be in the picture any more, but he might hang around in the selectors' eyes for a little while. I certainly wouldn't have him around the Test squad though - unless he averages 45 or so next season and can justify being picked as one of the best six batsmen going around.
Bearfax
Guest
I'm into tea leaves and chicken entrails myself, twodogs. The tea leaves tell me Faulkner may well become a great all rounder, but the chicken entrails suggest he'll struggle to get a spot with Maxwell likely to be considered our primary all rounder. Then again the Tarot Cards suggested I look carefully at Henriques. Mind you I went to a séance last week and seems there's a chance of Keith Miller making a come back. Do you think prognostication has its limits?
Bob Sims
Guest
I'm a great O'Keefe fan, and feel strongly that he should have gone to England in the squad, but as you say, Lyon has done nothing wrong and simply continues to improve despite being harshly treated at times. It's hard to see Australia ever playing two front line spinners again, as they did on the odd occasion when Magilla and Warnie were around. Unless there is a radical shift in thinking, I think they'll go with Lyon and back-up part-timers like Smith and Maxwell. Agar needs to become a true all-rounder to be considered, and is on the way, but may be longer than 2 years away.
Bob Sims
Guest
Probably right about Maxwell, but if his development and form continue to progress as they are, he is a must for inclusion somewhere. Top level cricket demands that current day players have at least two of the three skills. At least seven of my eleven fall into that category.