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Regardless of the result of this current Ashes series, it’s time for the next generation to emerge in Australian Cricket.
As we all know, Steve Smith is the man to lead the emerging class of cricketing talent, and will be tasked with forming them into a dominate force over the next decade.
At the end of 2015 Ashes series, we will see the core of this team gone. Injury has meant Ryan Harris has already hung up the boots, whilst opener Chris Rogers is hitting the later stages of 30.
Shane Watson and Brad Haddin have been tapped on the shoulder by selectors, as Peter Siddle continues his struggle to regain his spot in the side.
Adam Voges has been given an opportunity and hasn’t grabbed it and at the age of 35 it could spell the end of his Test career. Additionally, Shaun Marsh has had multiple opportunities yet only seems to get big scores in meaningless tour matches.
Then there is Michael Clarke. A champion who has led the team well and one of the best batsmen of this generation. However, he is past his best.
Constant back injuries have taken their toll, and in this series he has looked a shadow of the batsman who dominated a few years ago. He is a champion and there is every chance he will prove me wrong, but I think his time has come.
It’s time to build a team under Steve Smith that can be dominate for a decade. When Test matches against New Zealand and the West Indies roll around this summer, Mitchell Johnson should be the only player over 30 in the team.
We have great fast bowling stocks. Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Johnson are all bowling well, whilst Pat Cummins, James Pattinson, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Jackson Bird, Jason Behrendorff, Sean Abbott and Ben Cutting are all waiting in the wings.
Nathan Lyon is doing a great job as a spinner, and if you took out Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill, you would have a hard time finding an Australian Test spinner with a better record in the last 35 years.
The area that needs to be improved is batting.
Our top three will comprise David Warner and Steve Smith, with one spot open when Rogers retires. Positions 4 and 5 also need to be filled and Joe Burns, Marcus Stoinos and Chris Lynn are all 25 years of age and average over 40 in Shield cricket. They all averaged 52, 49 and 62 respectively last summer, with Burns already experiencing what it’s like to play Test cricket.
Behind them are Usman Khawaja, Cameron Bancroft, Nic Maddinson, Jordan Silk and a few others who have plenty of potential but need to step up and score consistently.
Wicket keeper
The spot is Peter Nevill’s to lose. He should lock it down and deserves his opportunity.
Chris Hartley has been a great keeper for Queensland, but is getting older and Nevill is better with the bat. In fact, Nevill could easily bat at number 6 for Australia.
All-rounder
Mitchell Marsh has this spot, however needs to perform consistently to keep it.
Despite his indiscretions, James Faulkner should not be ruled out, and if Marsh fails to perform, Faulkner would be a great number 7.
The one player I’ve left last to mention is Glenn Maxwell. On potential, he could be anything, but I think he needs a good season with the bat in shield cricket to average over 40 and prove he’s worth a spot.
A guy like Maxwell could easily bat at 6 in Test matches and be a backup spin option.
It’s a new generation for Australian cricket and if selectors are brave enough to move Clarke on and look to the next generation, we could have a very different looking XI come November at the Gabba versus the Kiwi’s.
My Test XI come November:
David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Steve Smith (c), Joe Burns, Chris Lynn, Peter Nevill, Mitchell Marsh, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
12th man: James Pattinson
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