The first Test of the 2015 Investec Ashes has been and gone. For England, several old questions have been answered, for Australia several new questions have been posed, most surrounding the age of the team.
The lack of youth is obviously problematic for Australia in the short term, going two down at Lord’s would make a comeback very improbable. But what is perhaps being overlooked are the long-term repercussions, considering this may be the last series for a handful of Australia’s batsmen.
While Australia’s domestic bowling stocks are overflowing with youthful talent, the reality is that when it comes to batting the Australians are selecting older players, such as Shaun Marsh and Adam Voges. This is not just due to their own form but from as a result of the lack of competition from younger batsmen.
To put this into perspective, in the most recent Sheffield Shield season only one of the top five leading run scorers was under 30.
Who will be part of Australia’s next generation of batsmen, but also how capable the next generation will be?
Perhaps the most obvious place for the Australian selectors to look, is to the one batsman in the top five leading run scorers who is under 30. Cameron Bancroft accumulated 896 runs at 47.15 for Western Australian last season. Only his teammates Adam Voges and Michael Klinger surpassed his tally, albeit quite comfortably.
As an opener, Bancroft will be hoping that the Australian selectors strongly consider him in the coming months, with the imminent retirement of Chris Rodgers.
Bancroft will have staunch competition from older players such as the revitalised Ed Cowan along with the sporadically brilliant Shaun Marsh. But with only two batsmen in Australia’s top seven under thirty, 22-year-old Bancroft would certainly inject youth into the side.
Bancroft also has the selection advantage of being able to play as wicketkeeper, another role that may well be up for grabs at the end of the Ashes. However it’s the wicketkeeper position that perhaps offers the most assurance for Australia batting future, as the selectors will be truly spoilt for choice in this position.
As it stands Phil Nevill seems to be Haddin’s most likely successor, though judging by the drop-off his average takes in the shorter forms this may only be in Test.
Neville is 29, so while he is not particularly youthful he offers more in the long-term than some of Australia’s other recent selections.
Neville’s most immediate rival for the position will be Matthew Wade. Having averaged 57.20 in the latest Shield season, Wade will probably feel a bit hard done by not to get back into the Australia squad.
Furthermore Wade actually averages more in Tests than Australia’s current gloveman Brad Haddin.
It is certainly no fault of his own that Wade is not in the Australian team, more so it is a representation of Australia’s keeping depth that stretches further yet.
Wade’s young Victorian compatriot Peter Handscomb has been forced to simply play as a batsman for Victoria, due to Wade’s presence, but has similarly managed to average above fifty this season.
Handscomb is only 24 years of age. Even younger is South Australia prodigy Travis Head. He recently succeeded Johan Botha as South Australia’s captain, despite only being 21.
With the likes of Sam Whiteman and Ryan Carters also offering both youth and skill to Australia’s keeper-batsman stocks, Australia may end up following New Zealand in playing multiple keepers in the one side.
Australia’s domestic batting youth is given further depth by players such as Chris Lynn, Nic Maddison, Marcus Stoinis, Usman Khawaja and Joe Burns, the latter two having tasted international cricket.
Even younger yet, is 18 year Jake Doran, whose performances for Australia’s youth teams suggests he could be one of the best players of the next generation.
These players show that Australia do not lack potential when it comes to their young batsmen. But what cannot be ignored is that out of all the aforementioned batsmen Chris Lynn holds the highest first-class average at 45.88.
This isn’t a bad average by any means but certainly doesn’t demand selection.
What this displays is that while Australia has a good deal of batsmen with the ability to impress on the international stage, it will take time for them to fulfil their potential.
When the last bowl of the Ashes is bowled, the selectors must turn their view to youth, but most importantly they must be patient with their players. If they do so they could be rewarded greatly.
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.
India have announced their 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup squad which is set to be played in the USA and Caribbean. The 15-man…
The Aussie's dismissal summed up Lucknow's night, losing to Kolkata Knight Riders by 98 runs.
As wife Alyssa Healy watches on, Mitchell Starc was back in form, taking three wickets in an over including the dangerous Tim David, to…
Joe Root was showing some brotherly love, giving his younger sibling Billy a chance in their county match.
Australia have reclaimed top spot in the ICC's Test rankings, replacing India. Despite not playing since winning 2-0 in New Zealand in March, Pat…
Yashasvi Jaiswal was looking comfortable at 67 off 40, until this moment when he hit the ball into his own stumps!
