An era is about to end for Australian cricket. A spectacular rebirth could follow
The history of Australian cricket is cycles of rebirth rather than a straight line.
To understand our current position, one must view it through the lens of the phoenix. Just as the bird emerges renewed from the flames, great eras of Australian dominance are preceded by periods of scorching heat.
Australia celebrate another Ashes series victory. But how long will this team remain together?Credit: Getty Images
This occurred in the late 1970s and mid-80s when World Series Cricket and the rebel tours reduced our domestic depth to ashes. We are in the furnace once more as a golden era of veterans prepares to depart. This leaves a void that only the boldest young talent can fill.
The end of this era should not cause concern. Australian cricket remains healthy. An exciting crop of young talent is coming through the system to form the core of the next great Australian teams.
In compiling this article, I have spoken with three state coaches and Tim Paine, who leads the Australia A program, to find out those who have identified themselves as players of the future.
Cricket Australia is exploring reshaping its development pathways to adapt to the changing landscape of the game. This evolution supports traditional male pathways and the developing women’s game.
CA aims to move away from a one-off championship to a multi-layered series, offering the best talent more competitive opportunities. The idea is for mainland states to play trials to choose their best team. An Allies team, to be selected from Tasmania and the territories, is being mooted to play in a Super Six tournament with the five states.
This move focuses on top-end talent. Red-ball cricket will be played internationally at under-19 level, and the best will continue to be stretched through the Australia A program.
The hotbed approach of getting the best young players together in a game environment cannot be underestimated. They will learn more from playing games than from the best-resourced coaching.
Great teams are built on quality pace bowling. Australia recently enjoyed one of the finest attacks in its history, led by Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. Scott Boland provided champion support.
Optimism for the future stems from a group of promising pace bowlers who have graduated into state sides during the past year.
Mahli Beardman impressed with his pace and bounce in the Big Bash.Credit: Getty Images
Callum Vidler, Mahli Beardman, Tom Straker and Charlie Anderson are names to watch. While they might not all reach the top, they provide great hope for the future.
Vidler has raw pace and has impressed observers across the country. He possesses a good head and thinks his way through the game. Although sidelined with a back injury, he has left a lasting impression on everyone who has seen him play.
Beardman is another prospect with massive upside. He stands tall and bowls with significant pace and bounce. He is still raw and requires work on his body to prepare for the physical demands of a long career. He would do well to follow the example of Starc in protecting his body for the long haul.
Straker has caught the eye, too. He is likened to Boland, due to his relentless accuracy and ability to regularly hit danger zones.
Tom Straker is seen by many as a Scott Boland clone, due to his relentless accuracy.Credit: Getty Images
Anderson is the youngest of this group and has yet to play at first-class level. He is skilful, possesses a fluent action and moves the ball in the air with consistent control.
Alongside experienced bowlers who have waited behind the current stars, these young men give selectors a chance to build another dominant attack.
The batting stocks are also promising, led by Sam Konstas, who is still considered a long-term prospect. Konstas is not the first batter to have had a setback early in his career. He has handled it well and is working hard at recalibrating his game.
Self-belief has always been a strength. He will become a better player for having to rethink every aspect of his batting.
Cooper Connolly is seen as a future leader for his country.Credit: AP
Cooper Connolly is a young batting all-rounder who receives high praise. He captained Australia at the under-19 World Cup in 2022 and was marked as a star from an early age. After only four first-class matches, he made his Test debut against Sri Lanka in Galle.
His left-arm spin was a factor in his early opportunities, with Steve Smith a vocal supporter of his selection. If his progress continues, he will be considered for a leadership role in the future.
Campbell Kellaway is a tall left-handed opener for Victoria who has gathered many fans. Older observers see a young Bill Lawry in his manner, while younger fans see similarities with Matthew Hayden.
These are big shoes to fill, but he is considered a natural replacement for Usman Khawaja. His innings against Starc on a difficult Sydney pitch earlier this summer impressed respected judges.
Will Salzmann has impressed with minimal first-class opportunities for NSW.Credit: Getty Images
Oliver Peake is another classy left-hander. He is captaining Australia at the under-19 World Cup and has already made his first-class debut. His maturity and calmness under pressure have been noted by many.
His ability to perform in key moments has generated excitement. Like Connolly, he is viewed as a future leader for his country.
William Salzmann has impressed in a short first-class career. He is a bowling all-rounder who shows skill and flexibility with the bat. His primary challenge will be securing consistent opportunities within the strong NSW set-up.
His coach, Neil Da Costa, noted his work ethic and discipline from a young age. According to Neil: “If there is no road for him, he will build it himself”.
Several other players received honourable mentions from state coaches. These include Jack Edwards, the tall bowling all-rounder and NSW captain. Liam Scott is a powerful all-rounder from South Australia and Aaron Hardie from Western Australia also remains in the conversation.
These players have the potential to become long-term stars, like the greats who made their names early and had era-shaping careers.
Spin depth has come under scrutiny following the injury to Nathan Lyon. Todd Murphy was the replacement during the Ashes, though he was left out of the final two games. Murphy has played seven Test matches.
His 2023 tour of India was his most successful to date. He has primarily been a side spin bowler. He is now working to develop his top-spin skills to capitalise on the bounce of Australian pitches.
Corey Rocchiccioli is his main competitor. Rocchiccioli is taller and generates more bounce. However, Murphy is younger and more consistent. Consistency often appeals more to selectors and captains who value reliability.
Corey Rocchiccioli is seen by many as a future Test player.Credit: Getty Images
Tanveer Sangha is regarded as the best young leg-spin option in the country. Unfortunately, leg-spin is increasingly marginalised by grass-covered drop-in pitches.
Historically, leg-spin worked better than off-spin in Australia, but powerful bats and changed pitch conditions have altered that equation. It would be a loss to the game if the art of leg-spin disappeared from Test cricket.
Shane Warne would be fulminating in the afterlife.
The other wildcard in the system is the growing number of south Asian cricketers now playing with Premier League clubs in all states. It will not be long before this cohort starts to make a big impact on the game in Australia.
Australian cricket is transitioning, but the cupboard is not empty. The insights from today’s coaches and the reflections of leaders such as Paine suggest we are in a necessary phase of the cycle.
The “empty cupboard” of the mid-80s was not a death sentence. It was the prerequisite for the dominant years of Allan Border, Steve Waugh and Mark Taylor.
The modern landscape provides a different kind of heat through T20 riches and global leagues. Yet, the fundamental task for selectors remains the same. They are looking for the rare few who can rise from the flames with the mental fortitude to endure five days of combat.
If we identify the right characters now, the next great era will not just be a recovery, it will be a spectacular rebirth.
The core of the next dominant Australian team is present in this list. The phoenix is ready to fly again.
