For today’s article, we have decided to select a team of 13 Australian players to take us into the next generation.
For the sake of ease, we decided 2025 would be a good year to aim for, with many of the players being in their mid to late 20’s.
We also understand some players like Steve Smith will still be playing but, to fit in as many young gems, we decided to restrict the team to those under 23 – with some exceptions.
We have put in lots of research to provide you with the next greats of Australian Test Cricket. Just don’t quote us on that.
Matthew Renshaw – Captain
Queensland – 23 (3,253 at 37.82)
Renshaw is a man of huge potential, as we have seen in 2018. He is the future of the Australian top order, as he is solid as a rock, and has a good head on his shoulders.
In 2025 Renshaw would be 30 years old, thus, at the peak of his powers. We have decided to put Renshaw as captain because of his potential and his solid cricketing mind.
Matt Short
Victoria – 23 (630 at 42)
Short doesn’t normally open the batting for Victoria in Shield cricket, but on gut feeling, we have backed him into the opening spot. He has a solid technique and a decent average. At 30 years old he would be one of the older players in 2025.
Jason Sangha
New South Wales – 19 (408 at 31)
Sangha has a lot to give our team in 2025. He will be 25 and hopefully the run scoring machine he promises. He has had a fantastic U19 World Cup and his eight shield games have reaped two centuries. While he is inconsistent, he has plenty of time to show us his class.
Will Pucovski
Victoria – 20 (588 at 49.00)
What a moment for young Will Pucovski! Being called into the Test team is special and he will key to our middle order in 2025. At 26 he will be up there as a leader and after his mammoth 243 in the shield this year.
Will Pucovski. (Photo: Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Travis Head
South Australia – 24 (5189 at 36)
Perhaps unlucky to miss out on the captaincy, as South Australia has had two poor seasons under him, however, he will be experienced at 31, and a key vice-captain to Renshaw.
Head has been solid in his shield form and has shown potential in Tests, just squeezed into the team at a year over our limit of 23.
Will Sutherland
Victoria – 19 (13 wickets at 18, 22 runs at 4)
Son of James Sutherland, Will has shown enormous potential for his club and at the U19 World Cup. Sutherland is a bowling all-rounder but, if he can develop for Victoria, we think he will be a force to be reckoned with at the tender age of 26.
Harry Nielsen – Wicketkeeper
South Australia – 23 (342 at 31)
Behind Alex Carey in the South Australia pecking order, Nielsen has shown huge class, especially with his recent century against India and a century on debut.
He is a tidy gloveman, having taken 25 catches from his seven games. He will be 30 in 2025, but if he keeps going the way he is, he will be a very exciting player.
Cameron Green
Pace – Western Australia – 19 (25 wickets at 19)
Cameron Green is pretty handy with the bat, which supplements his bowling well. At the young age of 25 in 2025, Green will be the future of the Australian bowling attack, much like Cummins is now.
Pat Cummins
Pace – New South Wales – 25 (120 wickets at 24)
Australian bowler Pat Cummins. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
Need we say anything at all? Cummins had to be included at 25, as he will be in the twilight of his career and be charged with leading a relatively new bowling cartel. Cummins will be the most senior player and, while missing out on the captaincy, he will be in the leadership team no doubt. If Cummins’ body can hold up at 32, he will be key to the bowling cartel’s success.
Jhye Richardson
Pace – Western Australia – 22 (49 wickets at 23)
Richardson is still fresh on the first class scene, but it feels like he has been around forever. He will take the new ball with Cummins and look to decimate opposition attacks. At 29, he will be in peak form in 2025, with both pace and bounce.
Lloyd Pope
Leg Spin – South Australia – 19 (9 wickets at 51)
After an excellent showing with the ball in his second match – 7/87 – Pope has still got a lot to learn. But, if he can learn from the master, Shane Warne, there is no doubt that he is an exciting prospect if Australia use him well. He will have at least another decade in him in 2025, as he will be 25.
12th Man: Gabe Bell
Pace – Tasmania – 23 (52 wickets at 21.90)
A bit unlucky not to be picked, but age and batting average went against Bell. That does not mean he isn’t useful, he is very good at swinging the ball and, in English conditions similar to his Tasmania, he will be lethal. Probably on the older side in 2025 at 30, but Peter Siddle has revived his career at 34.
13th Man: Aaron Hardie
Western Australia – 20 – (7354 runs at 36, 202 wickets at 15)
Unlucky to miss out, but hasn’t quite got the wood of Will Sutherland, as he is a year older and yet to play first class cricket, but he is still an exciting prospect who will have a whole career ahead of him in 2025 when he is 27.
1. Matthew Renshaw (c)
2. Matthew Short
3. Jason Sangha
4. Will Pucovski
5. Travis Head (vc)
6. Harry Nielsen (wk)
7. Will Sutherland
8. Cameron Green
9. Pat Cummins
10. Jhye Richardson
11. Lloyd Pope
–
12. Aaron Hardie
13. Gabe Bell
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