chris.hinton said:
Doug Bollinger (1981) - i actually dont really think he is that good, but he picked up 4/50 in the last Pura Milk Cup game. Will almost definetaly not play test cricket but he's still young and he could put pressure on the test players in the future.
Nathan Bracken (1977) - definetaly going to be one player really pushing for a test spot in the future. Probably not for a few more years yet though.
Don Nash (1978) - looks like hes about 40 but is only 24. Has some pace and can hit out in the lower order. Better bowler than Bollinger, but probably won't get a shot at test cricket.
Scott Brant (1983) - along with Paul Rofe i recokn he is the best young quick bowler in Australia. Left armer, has some toe for 19 years of age and will definetaly be thinking of test cricket in the future.
Damien McKenzie (1980) - very underrated talent. Smooth action, hasn't had much success yet, but it will come. May get a shot at test cricket depending on his performance in FC cricket over the next 2 seasons.
Ashley Nofke (1977) - one of the next in lines for a test spot, if not the next in line of the quick bowlers.
Paul Rofe (1981) - huge talent. Had a great season last season, but not having as much success this season. I reckon he's going to be a sensation. Similar style to McGrath - doubt he'd be as good, but he is the more slower but deadly accurate type McGrath is.
Matthew Inness (1978) - has a very strange action and get sall his pace from his run-up. But he has got great stats, and at the end of the day its hard to argue with that. Weight of numbers has to eventually see Inness get a go someday. Not to sure if he'd be able to adjust to test cricket because of his action though.
What people are forgetting at the moment is that the current generation of cricketers have had their stay in the son longer than others (mainly because they are the first group to become paid fulltime pro cricketers), and this is delaying the FC appearances of some of the younger guys, and accordingly delaying their test appearances.
This, however is a good thing IMO. People will wait longer to play test cricket, and would have more cricketing experience on their heads before playing test cricket. But they will still play the same amount of matches as anyone else, because they will retire at a later time. Very few players will now make their test match debuts before they turn 27 - only the exceedingly talented players will. However, the players that make it will still play 80 or 100+ test matches, because they won't retire till they are in their mid 30's.
People might think its a bad thing, because our team will be constantly branded as too old, however cricket isn't the type of game were it becomes exceedingly harder to play once you reach 33. (i'm not saying it's not physical and doesn't get harder as you get older and more wear and tear occurs to your body, but its not like footy, where its nearly impossible to play once your past that age because of the damage you have sustained). It can be a good thing, because as I said, the players in the test team would've had more experience at all levels of cricket, and can bring that into the game, instead of coming into the game at 21/22 years of age and still a baby and not playing to their potential from the start. They'll be ready to play from the moment they get in there. One player i think who will be a great example of this right now is going to be Martin Love.
Lets say that this is a possible test team in 5 years time: Jimmy Maher, Michael Hussey, Ricky Ponting, Martin Love, Simon Katich, Michael Clarke, Sean Clingeleffer, Shane Watson, Nathan Hauritz, Matt Inness, Paul Rofe, Ashley Noffke.
Now look at their performances from the 2001/2002 first class season:
Jimmy Maher (33 in 5 years time) Qld - 19 inns, 1194 runs at 66.63, HS: 209, 3 100s, 6 50s.
Michael Hussey (32) WA - 18 inns, 621 runs at 34.50, HS: 100, 1 100, 4 50s.
Ricky Ponting (33) Tas/Aus - 14 inns, 733 runs at 66.33, HS: 157*, 3 100s 2 50s. (Played 56 tests by end of 2001/02)
Martin Love (33) Qld - 22 inns, 1189 runs at 62.57, HS: 202*, 2 100s, 6 50s.
Simon Katich (32) WA - 18 inns, 651 runs at 36.16, HS: 131, 1 100, 4 50s. (Played 1 test)
Michael Clarke (26) NSW - 18 inns, 633 runs at 39.00, HS: 132, 2 100s, 2 50s.
Sean Cligellefer (27) Tas - 15 inns, 517 runs at 47.00, HS: 140*, 2 100s, 1 50.
Shane Watson (26) Tas - 11 inns, 292 runs at 29.20, 22 wkts at 23.36, BB: 6/32, 2 5 inns, 0 10 mtch.
Nathan Haurtiz (26) Qld - 7 mtchs, 16 wkts at 30.25, BB: 4/119, 0 5 inns, 0 10 mtch.
Matt Inness (29) Vic - 7 mtchs, 31 wkts at 19.25, BB: 7/19, 1 5 inns, 1 10 mtch.
Paul Rofe (26) SOA - 11 mtchs, 41 wkts at 25.85, BB: 7/52, 3 5 inns, 1 10 mtch.
Ashley Noffke (30) Qld - 11 mtchs, 39 wkts at 28.46, BB: 5/31, 2 5 inns, 0 10 mtch.
Average Age: 29.41
Now look at the current Australian team and their performances in first class cricket 5 years ago:
Justin Langer (32) WA/Aus - 14 inns, 771 runs at 77.10, HS: 243*, 1 100, 3 50s. (Played 8 tests by the end of 96/97)
Matt Hayden (31) Qld/AusXI/Aus - 14 inns, 648 runs at 54.00, HS: 224, 2 100s, 2 50s. (Played 7 tests)
Ricky Ponting (28) Tas/Aus - 18 inns, 960 runs at 60.00, HS: HS: 159, 3 100s, 4 50s. (Played 6 tests)
Mark Waugh (37) NSW/Aus - 13 inns, 564 runs at 43.48, HS: 159, 1 100, 4 50s. (Played 63 tests)
Steve Waugh (37) NSW/Aus - 12 inns, 609 runs at 55.36, HS: 186*, 2 100s, 3 50s. (Played 89 tests)
Damien Martyn (31) WA - 20 inns, 701 runs at 36.89, HS: 108, 2 100s, 3 50s.
Adam Gilchrist (30) WA/AusXI - 17 inns, 591 runs at 39.40, HS: 108*, 1 100, 2 50s.
Brett Lee (26) - not playing FC cricket
Andy Bichel (32) Qld/AusXI/Aus - 6 mtchs, 30 wkts at 21.66, BB: 6/56, 4 5 inns, 1 10 mtch. (Played 2 tests)
Jason Gillespie (27) SOA/AusXI/Aus - 5 mtchs, 9 wkts at 37.77, BB: 5/64, 1 5 inns, 0 10 mtch. (Played 5 tests)
Shane Warne (33) Vic/Aus - 7 mtchs, 27 wkts at 29.44, BB: 4/95, 0 5 inns, 0 10 mtch. (Played 52 tests)
Glenn McGrath (30) NSW/Aus - 6 mtchs, 29 wkts at 19.55, BB: 5/50, 1 5 inns, 0 10 mtch. (Played 28 tests)
Average Age: 31.16
Now look at the perfomances of the two groups of players and there is very little difference, especially when you consider Hussey and Katich are proven performers as in season 2000/01 they both average over 50 and that 01/02 was an off season.
The bowling department is looking even stronger. There are 3 future players now who had really good seasons last season (Watson, Rofe and Inness) while Noffke has also proven he can play FC cricket. And Hauritz had an average 2001/02.
Compared to 5 years ago. Only McGrath and Bichel (who still hasn't really cracked the test team) had really good seasons, while Warne was obvioubsly a proven performer by then (just didn't have a great season). Gillespie had done nothing in FC cricket by then and Lee hadn't even played.
There is a problem in the fact that there were 9 guys with Test experience (even if 5 of them were under 10 games) compared to just the two in the future team.
Yes, that is a slight problem, but i believe that the FC Cricket competition (although never really being able to simulate the pressures of test cricket) is getting so strong now, that there is not that big of a jump from Sheffield Shield cricket into the Test arena.
But overall, Our future Australian team is looking like its going to be just as good as what the current Australian team is going to be if you base it on those performances, and there is no reason why you can't.
