There is one interesting thing Matt Renshaw and Will Pucovski have in common.
I was watching the lunch-time show in a Test match, and they were talking about players in contention to join Australia’s batting line-up. The commentators threw in a name that I had never heard of, and I just though to myself “Nah, just someone who might have scored a good knock in the Shield”.
So I didn’t find out who this person was. Then articles came up about why he should be selected, but I still thought the same thing as before. Then in my utter shock and confusion, the Australian selectors had selected this person for the upcoming Tests, so I decided to finally find out who this person was, and I was impressed.
This person was a 20-year-old who was averaging over 40 runs in the Shield, and I then thought to myself “Yeah, this looks good”. Now one of those players, Queenslander Matt Renshaw, has had a fair amount of time in the baggy green. 11 Test matches, 623 runs, three half-centuries, one century and an average of 33.47.
Will Pucovski on the other hand, has just earned a call-up to the test squad. The Victorian has played only eight, yes eight, matches for the Bushrangers but has 588 runs to his name at an average of 49. He has two centuries, with one of them being a massive knock of 243 against Western Australia. And there have been a lot of articles about Pucovski here on The Roar in the past few days.
What really impresses me about these guys is how early they have come into the Australian setup. The last player that was 20 or younger to earn their first cap was Ashton Agar in 2013, and the one before him was Pat Cummins in 2011. Cummins is the only one there who has gone on to be a regular in the team.
And the chain is certain to grow soon. There are a lot of talented players in the restricted age groups that have highly impressed. Here are four contenders for the next player to randomly creep up on us and earn an Australian Test call-up before they turn 21 years old.
1. Jason Sangha: Batsman (New South Wales) DOB: 8/9/99
Jason Sangha has actually been around the Test team talk but didn’t make the squad for the series against Sri Lanka. Eight first-class matches with 408 runs and two centuries. An average of 31.38 runs isn’t too bad.
Sangha can also do a bit of leg-break bowling. 51 overs for four wickets including a spell of 3/80. He is the captain of the under 19s Australian Team and was the top run scorer in the World Cup.
(AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
2. Lloyd Pope: Spin bowler (South Australia) DOB: 1/12/99
Lloyd Pope is the clear one in the bag. Figures of 8/35 against England in the Under 19s World Cup quarter-final. He has played four Shield matches for the Redbacks with nine wickets and an average of 51.33. In those nine wickets was a seven-wicket haul for 87 runs in the first innings against Queensland, being the youngest player to do in the Sheffield Shield.
If you look at his bowling action, it’s very similar to Shane Warne’s. He looks a bit like Warnie as well, you never know what he could end up being.
3. Jack Edwards: Batsmen (New South Wales) DOB: 19/4/00
Still only 18 years old, Jack Edwards has played six matches for the Blues with a solid average of 26.33 in the middle order with a highest knock of 101. Like the others, he made the Under 19s World Cup squad. Edwards still has two years before he turns 21 and can do a bit of medium pace bowling.
4. Cameron Green: Bowling All-Rounder (Western Australia) DOB: 3/6/99
Green has seven matches under his belt for the Warriors along with 25 wickets in only 153 overs. He earnt 6/30 in one innings which went on to be 9/42 for the match. He has a batting average of 16.75 and a high score of 45. He also holds the title for youngest player to take a five-wicket haul in a shield match, which he achieved in February 2017.
Other players could be Param Uppal, Zak Evans or Austin Waugh. We obviously all know these players now. Maybe the next Renshaw or Pucovski is playing grade cricket. Pat Cummins, Ashton Agar, Matt Renshaw, Will Pucovski, who’s next?
My next article will be previewing the Socceroos’ Asian Cup quarter-final if they make it.
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