The new cricket season is upon us, with the Aussies already flying out to the Middle East for the Test series against Pakistan in early October.
This season is unique because of the suspension of two mainstay batsmen, the injuries to two of our four world-class bowlers and the new coach, who will be in charge for his first Test series.
While batting is the most impacted area, coach Justin Langer recently emphasised the importance of scoring hundreds, and this is where it will be interesting to watch the Shield season this year, where a host of young talent is on show. Can the young crop of batsmen heed Langer’s high-scoring mantra?
There are few encouraging signs already. Firstly, all the states have selected a good number of talented youngsters in their squads and have offered them contracts. The One-day Cup has started as well, with the young guns showing some good performances in the initial rounds
Based on this backdrop, I have tried to categorise the up-and-coming batsmen.
Group A – The next generation
Featuring Kurtis Patterson, Peter Handscomb, Cameron Bancroft, Joe Burns and Glenn Maxwell, this group is the next in line for Test selection. All of them barring Patterson have previous Test experience, and their time out of the team should do wonders for them in terms of mounting a comeback, especially for Handscomb and Bancroft. These guys should be plundering runs this Shield season and bringing the door down.
(AAP Image/Dan Peled)
Group B – Watch out for them
Comprising Jake Weatherald, Jake Doran and Will Pucovski, these unbelievably talented guys are established in their states, but this will be the season we expect them to make good impressions. All of them scored tons last year in the Shield, but this year they need to be churning them out regularly for to be recognised by the selectors.
Group C – Seriously talented
Including Jason Sangha, Jack Edwards, Ryan Hackney, Mckenzie Harvey, Max Bryant, Josh Philippe and Angus Lovell, this group have been making good runs at the age category levels. If blooded early at Shield and Australia A level, they’ll be serious contenders in two to three years. Examples are knocks by Sangha, Philippe and Harvey last year against England.
As you see, there are some really exciting players rising up through Australia’s batting stocks. The appointment of Chris Rogers at the National Cricket Centre and Langer as the national coach bodes well for these young guns.
Heaps of hundreds was what the Shield batsmen of the golden era were knowm for, and hopefully that’s a trend that will continue with Langer emphasising it this season.
One more thing to consider is having a serious A-team structure rather than just restricting it to one to two short series oer year. The more exposure this young talent gets, the better it’s going to be for Australian cricket in general.
The success of Justin Langer’s team and Cricket Australia would be to have a handful of batsmen knocking on the Test door come April next year, and not just the returning Steve Smith and David Warner
I’m awaiting this Shield season with a sense of anticipation and a positive feeling.
Baggy_Green
Roar Pro
Ronan maybe you just selected the test batting group for 2 years down the line season ????
Baggy_Green
Roar Pro
I have not included the batsmen who are already in the test squad . Head can be a very good test player - he always strikes me as one working hard to improve and become a better player. The selectors also need to give him a fair run in the side
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Of batsmen aged 25 and under I think there is good to solid Test potential amongst: - Renshaw, Patterson, Bancroft, Head, Labuschagne, Weatherald, Doran and Heazlett. I reckon at least 3 of those guys will end up being very decent Test batsmen.
Maxwell Charlesworth
Roar Rookie
Where does Travis Head sit in this equation for you?
Baggy_Green
Roar Pro
Yes there are good players like Marcus Harris , Travis Dean , Sam Heazlett - all a little bit inconsistent but have the potential to make the jump to the next level. Philippe smacked a 60 odd today and looks a different class when he gets going. Too bad McKenzie Harvey got out after getting a start. What might also help is we have really battle hardened players like Voges , McDonald , Seccombe , Jacques etc who are in charge of the Shield sides with Rogers and Rhino at NCA which will only help out these young guns develop. This JLT cup has been really positive so far
AREH
Roar Guru
Like the lists. I suppose Renshaw falls into the first category although I guess he is already in the side. Weatherald could really be the one for mine, in any format - he looks to have an enormous future at International level, such a classy, compact player. The only other I'd consider in the second category is Ben McDermott, if he could translate his incredible short-form abilities to the longer game. Perhaps Marcus Harris too. Nice to see Bryant and Philleppe included, both have looked seriously impressive in the JLT so far.
Tom
Guest
International player restrictions don’t allow for the same numbers anymore. That said, we have had a few there this year at different times over the last few years. Renshaw, Head, Khawaja, Finch, Smarsh, Bancroft, Handscomb, Siddle and probably more that I have missed.
Baggy_Green
Roar Pro
What about Handscomb Simoc.. i think if he can get a little bit mentally tougher he will make a grest test batsman in his second coming
Baggy_Green
Roar Pro
You are right Paul - playing county cricket will make all of these pkayers much more rounded cricketers. I wonder why it has gotten out of fashion nowadays.
Tom
Guest
I am expecting big things from Sam Heazlett over the next season or two. Probably belongs amongst the group b guys along with Labuschagne too.
Tom
Guest
Ignore my previous comment. I must have imagined Renshaw’s name in the A group.
Tom
Guest
Renshaw is much better than Bancroft.
Simoc
Guest
Only Cameron Bancroft in your Group A looks to have long term test potential. The others may get an odd test game filling a gap. The other groups are all talk at this stage, as we see every year. Maxwells probably not wanted or he would be in the team now. I like the potential of Alex Carey & Jake Lehmann but someone new needs to stand up on the big stage and start producing the goods in test matches when given a chance. It'll be a lot easier here than overseas.
Paul
Roar Guru
The message is pretty clear - get hundreds and preferably plenty of them. You've named a number of quality young players and I wonder whether they shouldn't be playing a few seasons in England and maybe India? Guys like the Waugh twins went to England possessing probably the same amount of talent as most of these guys, but came back way better players because of the grind of country cricket and the need to adapt to new conditions. We're going to be playing more cricket in the sub-continent, so surely we'd want our guys to be ready? A season in India, Sri Lanka, etc would help no end.