For the last four to five years, Australia has seen a heap of fast bowlers crop up. Even if someone is injured, like Ryan Harris at the moment, there are so many able replacements to choose from.
This is really heartening to see as Tests are won by taking 20 wickets, so a good supply line is always needed.
Now, for the next four or five years I expect a similar thing to happen on the batting side. There was a time when no replacements were visible for Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey and even Simon Katich for that matter.
In the next few years we will also lose Chris Rogers, Shane Watson and, after a while, Pup too. Able batsmen will be needed to come in then. Fortunately Aussie cricket is shaping up to be in a better place this time around.
At the moment, seeing the selections of various teams like Test, Australia A team and NPS sides, one gets a feeling that there are different compartments that the selectors have slotted the future batsmen into. They are split into three levels.
Level 1 – Can come in to the Test side this season if needed
Currently Phil Hughes, Peter Forrest, Shaun Marsh and Tom Cooper seem to be in this category. Any of them, barring Marsh now, can be a backup batsman for the UAE tour. I’d like to think that Callum Ferguson is also being looked at but he is viewed as a ODI player basically.
Level 2 – The Gen Next
At this level, we have young guns like Chris Lynn, Nic Maddinson, Travis Head and Jordan Silk. Although not selected for the A series, Joe Burns and Ryan Carters are also in the same boat more or less. I think the selectors will give all these players another one or two seasons of Shield cricket, which is not a bad thing since it will harden them up and get them prepared for the big time.
Level 3 – The ultra-young
Batsmen classified here are the ones selected for NPS like – Matthew Short, Kelvin Smith, Sean Willis and Cam Bancroft. You would also think that selectors will also keep an eye on likes of Jake Doran, Jaron Morgan, Kurtis Patterson, Damien Mortimer and Will Bosisto
I’m not even mentioning Sam Whiteman and Mitch Marsh here, as well as few ones like Marcus Harris and Peter Handscomb (at Level 2 in my list). With the number of names mentioned here, what do you think Roarers? Do you share my opinion that a slew of talented and dominant batsmen are coming up through the ranks capable of taking Oz to the top of cricket?
aus_fan_guy
Guest
add ryan carters also there
aus_fan_guy
Guest
my fav 11 young australian batsmen (those who r not i the aus team)::::: travis head sam whiteman jordan silk joe burns chris lynn nic maddinson sam whiteman kurtis patterson marcus harris cameron bancroft jake doran
Baggy_Green
Roar Pro
Think if a couple of smashers like Max or Finch can cement a test spot that will also be a really good thing
Adam
Guest
Under 40 hardly screams test quality though
Quitwhinging
Guest
Tom Cooper just a shade under 40... hardly useless, don't judge because you don't like them, do that on merit
JGK
Roar Guru
Geez - if Tom Cooper and Peter Forrest are needed this year we will be in a lot of trouble.
Sideline Comm.
Guest
I like the optimism. The new crop of batsmen is truly encouraging. I agree that most of the fellas you mentioned are true potentials for the test side, although there were a few omissions. Khawaja shouldn't be forgotten just yet I don't think, and I have a feeling we haven't seen the last of the likes of Wade as a batsmen, and others too possibly. Honestly though, I'm a fan of gloating about how good our batting crops ARE, not how good they might be in the future. I'm excited about the possibilities though, I can't ever remember looking forward so much to a shield season.