We’ve all been concerned about the apparent dearth of batting talent coming through. Australian selectors have shown a distinct lack of confidence in selecting batsmen under 25 years in recent years with Steve Smith and Phil Hughes the only risks taken.
Yet we have a collection of challengers waiting in the wings such as Glenn Maxwell, Nic Maddinson, Peter Handscomb, Cameron Bancroft and Marcus Stoinis, who, though they are not breaking the records, are at least the equal of the older group chosen.
But is that about to change? Is Australia about to see the emergence of some batting talent that just can’t be ignored?
There are some amazing batting debutantes on the rise in the Sheffield Shield this year. Several young bucks have already scored centuries in their first few games, a usually infrequent event at best.
Is a new Golden Age about to come upon us?
The Australian selectors may be conservative, but the state selectors have finally bitten the bullet and a bunch of young willow wielders of not inconsiderable ability have cannoned onto the scene.
While the established players are struggling, have a look at the debut scores of Australia’s new young guns with the bat. This is their opening foray into the big time:
Travis Dean, 23 years
Scores of 154*, 109*, 24, 19, 6, and 0. This was immediately following Under-23 scores of 217*, 63, 116, 187*.
Jake Lehmann, 23 years
Yep, Darren Lehmann’s son recorded opening scores of 205*, four and six. This followed Under-23 scores of 74 and 86.
Sam Heazlett, 20 years
Opening scores of 129, 78, 0, 9, 11 and 34.
Matt Renshaw, 19 years
Had already played a couple of Shield matches last year but is looking hot property with scores of 37, 4, 94, 45, 29 and 170.
Will Bosisto, 22 years
Had one or two Shield matches a year ago but this year so far is scoring 35, 0, 10, 108, 33, 10. He also scored 78 in a Cricket Australia game against New Zealand. This kid was a former Under-19 Australian captain who averaged about 250 in one Under-19 competition
Jake Doran, 19 years
Still finding his feet and a slow start but has scored 5, 7, 0, 68, 7, 33, 5 and 50.
There are one or two others, including Alex Ross from South Australia in his second season, who are taking the Shield by the throat. So many centuries by debutantes is almost unheard of in Shield cricket after only four rounds.
Of course, as the season progresses they will probably be found out for their various weaknesses, but for so many to start so strong, while the top bats are floundering, says something about the talent we have coming through.
Sure we are not talking Test spots in the near future, but I suspect the days of selecting batsmen for Test debuts over 25 could be coming to a close.
Take down the names above, they could be Australia’s Test batting line-up in a few years.
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