The selection of Lance Morris in the Australian squad for the second Test against the West Indies shows the selectors are already starting to plan for a post-big three era.
And even though Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood still have plenty of Tests left in them, Australia need to start have an eye on a future without the star trio because there is a dearth of young options in the Sheffield Shield ranks.
Of the 22 bowlers who rolled the arm over at pace for the six teams in the just-completed round, 24-year-old Morris was one of just five aged under 25.
West Australian teammate Aaron Hardie, 23, and Victorian trio Sam Elliott, 22, Fergus O’Neill, 21, and Will Sutherland, 23, were the only other seamers on display in the three games who are yet to celebrate their 25th birthday.
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The average age of fast bowlers in the Shield was 28.2 with old-timers Jackson Bird, 35, and Peter Siddle, 38, sharing the new ball for Tasmania.
Player | Team | Age |
Joel Paris | WA | 29 |
Matthew Kelly | WA | 27 |
Aaron Hardie | WA | 23 |
Lance Morris | WA | 24 |
Michael Neser | Qld | 32 |
Mark Steketee | Qld | 28 |
Gurinder Sandhu | Qld | 29 |
James Bazley | Qld | 27 |
Jackson Bird | Tas | 35 |
Peter Siddle | Tas | 38 |
Riley Meredith | Tas | 26 |
Beau Webster | Tas | 29 |
Wes Agar | SA | 25 |
Nathan McAndrew | SA | 29 |
Brendan Doggett | SA | 28 |
Sean Abbott | NSW | 30 |
Chris Tremain | NSW | 31 |
Mickey Edwards | NSW | 27 |
Sam Elliott | Vic | 22 |
Fergus O’Neill | Vic | 21 |
Will Sutherland | Vic | 23 |
Morris has been called into the extended Test squad for the Adelaide Oval clash with the West Indies alongside Queensland veteran Michael Neser, 32, as cover for Cummins as he tries to overcome a thigh injury.
Scott Boland is the likely candidate to replace Cummins after his 18-wicket haul from three Ashes Tests last summer. The Victorian is no spring chicken either at 33.
Along with injured West Australian speedster Jhye Richardson, 26, they have been the fringe quicks used in the Test team in the couple of few years.
Cummins doesn’t turn 30 until May while Hazlewood will be 32 and Starc 33 when they each celebrate birthdays next month. Between them they have chalked up a combined 174 Tests and 710 wickets and all three are in the top 12 of the ICC Test bowler rankings.
If the Australians follow the lead of England’s management of Stuart Broad and James Anderson by stripping their main quicks back to Tests only to lengthen their career, the super-fit NSW threesome could continue at international level deep into their 30s based on their durability in recent years.
Boland and Neser are in danger of suffering Jamie Siddons syndrome (Siddonsdrome, perhaps?) of being prolific players at first-class level over the course of their careers but not getting much of a look-in at Test level because of generational talent ahead of them. Maybe the bowler’s version of this should be known as Andy Bichelitis?
Once Richardson gets back to his best after overcoming his latest injury, a minor heel problem, he will be viewed as the player most likely to become Australia’s next pace spearhead.
But more young quicks need to emerge from the Shield ranks and that’s why Morris has seemingly come from nowhere to be within striking distance of becoming Australia’s 467th male Test cricketer.
He is the leading wicket taker in the Shield arena this summer with 27 scalps at 18.4, which – combined with his ability to bowl in the 150km/h ballpark – makes him a tantalising prospect.
Morris bagged 3-22 to nearly lead WA to a victory in their rain-shortened match with Queensland at the Gabba and could have had more with Gurinder Sandu dropped off his bowling in the slips with the home side 6-45 trying to hold out for a draw late on Sunday.
“Yesterday I got off the field at the Gabba and got a call about 10 minutes later,” he told reporters at the airport in Adelaide on Monday en route to joining the national team. “Genuine surprise. I struggled to even pack my kitbag, to be honest.
“Honestly, the way things have happened in the last 24 hours you never know,” he added when asked if he thought he was a chance of making the final XI.
Morris said he had been clocked at 150km/h a few times and selection chief George Bailey said that raw speed played a large part in his surprise inclusion.
“He has genuine pace and his ability to create opportunities for wickets is a real drawcard. It will be great experience for him to come into the environment,” Bailey said on Monday when announcing his inclusion in the second Test squad.
Boland is likely to play the day-night Test if Cummins is ruled out due to his thigh injury and the skipper is considered a 50-50 proposition, according to coach Andrew McDonald.
Starc (45) and Hazlewood (43) sent down plenty of overs in Perth as well so there is a possibility one or both of them could be rested as well given they were bowling on Sunday and have just a three-day rest period before the next Test gets under way.
“Bowling last and a short turnaround puts stress on your bowling stocks,” McDonald said.
“You don’t go in and pre-determine what you’re going to do over the summer. We don’t sit here and go this player is going to play that Test match, it’s not as finite as that, it’s play the Test match, we know we’ve got other guys ready and available, see how our guys pull up and then move from there.”
Apart from Morris in the search for future Test quicks, Hardie has also been impressive for WA, more so as an all-rounder in the Cameron Green mould.
Sutherland is another potential candidate down the track. He took 5-58 to bowl the Vics to victory over NSW despite a first innings deficit after claiming four scalps earlier in the match.
Queensland’s Mark Steketee has been on the fringes of the national team over the past couple of years but is already 28 and if he doesn’t get a chance in the next year or two, the selectors may move on to younger options.
Tasmania’s Riley Meredith, who was called into the ODI squad last month, has encouraging first-class figures of 72 wickets at 33.26 from 25 matches, but needs to do more to be a chance of Test honours.
South Australian rising star Jordan Buckingham, Tasmania’s Lawrence Neil-Smith, and NSW seamer Liam Hatcher have shown flashes of potential at first-class level and despite not cementing a spot with their respective states, have been included in the Cricket Australia XI to take on South Africa at Allan Border Field in a four-day clash starting on Friday.
Curmudgeon1961
Roar Rookie
Pretty hard for our Test Team (Haydos, Gary...)
Rellum
Roar Guru
Welcome to modern cricket. PONIs and players "identifed" in under age cricket are realistically the only players considered. That is how CA and to a lesser extent Chappell set up the current system. Grade cricket is basically a waste of time if you didn't play under age rep cricket.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
In terms of batsmen from WA, Green aside there's a few recent examples of shield form not translating to consistent test form. The Marsh brothers, Bancroft and Cartwright selected on the strength of their batting. Ashton Turner hasn't developed as much as the junior talent he was. Voges plundered loads of runs in a very brief career against weaker teams. Sometimes Shield form just doesn't translate to test form. Bevan, Kurtis Patterson and even Matt Hayden in his first stint as Aus opener are proof of that.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
Get him in there I reckon. Our second-string pacers, Neser, Richardson, Boland etc are all pie-chucking state-level cricketers. Boland did well in one test at his home ground on the back of some terrible cricket from the Poms but he got lucky. You can't beat out and out pace.
jammel
Roar Rookie
Maybe. But another 6/9 from Scotty B @ the G this summer and he'll be in our first choice XI! :)
jameswm
Roar Guru
What's the issue with Hazelwood?
Dirk
Guest
yeh, not sure why Perth gets a test over the likes of Hobart or Canberra - far bigger cricketing towns. Most people think Perth is in Scotland.
jameswm
Roar Guru
"Are you having your say again?" is what I get asked...
Dirk
Guest
I bet this bloke thinks Adam Gilchrist is west australian too.
jameswm
Roar Guru
I would: - play Boland for Cummins, no point risking a fast bowler with a niggle at the start of the summer after winning the first test - if either of Starc or Haze is under any risk, rest them and play Neser too, who would no doubt thrive under lights
JamesH
Roar Guru
Davies hasn't debuted in the Shield yet but he just hit 115 at better than run a ball vs West Indies in the PM's XI match.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
That's the bowlers. Remember, this thread of conversation is about batsmen. It's absolutely certain that WA spectators turn up to sport when: 1. They don't have to go to work instead. 2. When the game hasn't already been played by the time they are free to go. 3. When the selected side is representative of domestic form I.e. it's the Australian side.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Cricket fans also go to tests and watch it live. Just lime the 67 fans who attended the Perth test over the five days. It's actually a state side providing players to the test bowling unit. That's NSW (well when you give them Head from time to time). Not states. Just wanted to make that distinction because when it comes to NSW, they deserves a high distinction. Dan Liebke would agree
nics
Roar Rookie
Just don't mention the
warwickets column.Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I'd have Steketee, Neser and Paris ahead of Boland. Boland had a stunning handful of matches, including that test, but the others have the more consistent and more impressive body of work.
jammel
Roar Rookie
If the big 3 + Lyon + Green is our best attack: Then Jhye Richardson, Lance and Boland, backed by Swepson and Hardie is our Australia A
nics
Roar Rookie
It is the first year of the rule of
Captain Pat CumminsEmperor Caesar and the natives ofWestern Australiathe eastern province of Judea are restless following the deposition of the much-loved local leader Jus-Langer after anemployee surveyunsatisfactory census. Hopes had risen that a local rebel Ash-Agar, famed for his ability to“keep things tight in the middle overs”conduct hit-and-run attacks over one day, would be ableto break into the Test teamexpel the Roman invaders. Sadly Ash-Agar was executed afterfailing to take any wickets in a tour matchbeing unable to survive a 5-day siege. Local hopes now turn to GreenCam-Ron, a striking young man with ruddy cheeks, capable of swinging a club like Samson, and slinging a ball like David. Will he bethe all-rounder Australia has craved since being torn a new one by Botham, Flintoff et althe Messiah?Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Sounds like me and the misso. "Guy are you on your phone again? Better not be that stupid sports site" "Yeah I'll have some pork side"
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Thanks goab, I needed that. Don just gets me going. I'm good now, ta
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
It's piffle only to you. Cricket fans think otherwise. Did you know that state sides provide players for test sides? The good thing about you trolling me is that you get to learn things.