With veterans like Shane Watson, Chris Rogers and Peter Siddle under increasing pressure to retain their spots within the Australian cricket team, who are the young stars that can step up to replace them?
I’ve compiled a list of five young stars proving their wares at domestic level that could soon make their way onto the big stage.
1. Marcus Stoinis
It’s been a year to remember for Marcus Stoinis. From the fringes of the Victorian team, the Northcote all-rounder has become one of the most valuable players in the Bushrangers side.
Playing a prominent role in Victoria’s Matador Cup campaign, Stoinis’ growing reputation was further underlined when he opened the bowling and batted at number three in the state’s opening Sheffield Shield win over NSW earlier this year.
While plenty will say Stoinis who, those who have seen the 25-year-old’s form at both club and state level will know this young man has built a case Victorian selectors simply could not ignore.
With the ability to bowl at good pace as well having the flexibility and skill set to bat anywhere in the order, Victorian cricket fans can expect to see a lot more of Stoinis in coming years, with the all-rounder committed to long-term deals with the Big Bash League and the Bushrangers.
2. Jason Behrendorff
Born in New South Wales and growing up in Canberra, left-armer Jason Behrendorff made his debut for Western Australia in a one-day match in 2011.
Having taken 4-76 on his Sheffield Shield debut, the youngster was duly rewarded with a contract with both the Warriors and Perth Scorchers.
His breakthrough season came in 2013-14 when he finished the summer as the second-highest wicket-taker in the Sheffield Shield with 40 wickets at 22.70 as the Warriors made the final.
He also took 11 wickets in nine matches as the Scorchers claimed the Big Bash League title and later earned a call-up for Australia A’s 2014 winter series.
Australian cricket legend Adam Gilchrist claims Behrendorff has “every chance of higher honours down the track”, crediting his increased strike power and pace for his purple patch of form.
“His control is exceptional, left-armers need to not just push the ball across the right-hander but also bring it back into them, and he can do that,” Gilchrist said.
“He’s improved his pace the last couple of years and when you combine that with a consistent line and length, it amounts to a pretty good package.”
3. Joel Paris
Standing at 1.91 metres with the ability to swing the ball both ways, Joel Paris is a star of the future.
Averaging a touch over 14 in seven first class matches, Paris, 22, was an Australia Under-19 representative at just 16, making his one-day debut for Western Australia in 2013.
Mark my words, this kid will play for Australia before his 24th birthday and his opening partner, the previously mentioned Jason Behrendorff, won’t be far behind.
4. Gurinder Sandhu
Having impressed for Australia at Under-19 level, well-built quick Gurinder Sandhu burst onto the domestic scene for NSW towards the end of the 2013-14 season.
Sandhu was awarded the prestigious Steve Waugh Medal as the state’s best cricketer in his rookie 2012-13 season despite only playing two Sheffield Shield games and four Ryobi Cup matches. The 194-centimetre fast-bowler of Indian heritage managed to rack up an impressive 14 wickets in the Shield at 11.85 and 14 at 14.57 in the Ryobi Cup.
Despite not bowling with the fearsome pace of others, Sandhu hits the wicket hard, keeps the seam up and bowls with good control and good changes of pace. Using his height very well he has plenty of natural tools to cause batsmen around the country plenty of trouble for years to come.
Not a particularly bold selection on my behalf throwing him into my top five considering he’s already represented Australia A and the Prime Minister’s XI, but, at 21, he’s hardly a well-known figure outside of those in the know.
5. Sam Whiteman
With all the recent talk surrounding the lack of runs from current Australian keeper Brad Haddin, I thought it would be useful throwing up a potential replacement for when the selectors are looking to go in a new direction.
For the record, Haddin’s form with the gloves is as good as ever and despite his lack of runs this series I suspect the drive and determination we’ve seen in the past will see him through one more Ashes series.
When that time comes for Australia to select a new wicketkeeper, selectors will no doubt look at the form of this Yorkshire born, Western Australian.
Having made his first-class debut early in the 2012-13 season, Whiteman became a regular member of the Western Australia side, playing eight Sheffield Shield matches that summer for 422 runs at 26.37. His numbers during the 2013-14 season were even more impressive – 687 runs at 45.80, placing him sixth on the Shield run tally, combined with 45 dismissals, the most of any keeper.
These results earned him a call-up to the Australia A side for their four-day matches against India A in 2014 and he didn’t let anyone down, scoring a splendid 174.
Make no mistake, this kid will be around playing at the highest level for a very long time.
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