Who will the lead the next generation of Australian red-ball cricket?
Sheffield Shield expert Adam White has unveiled his top seven batsmen in Australia 25 year’s of age and under on SEN’s Sportsday.
See his rankings below:
1. Cam Green (West Australia)
“The obvious one – 24 years of age – 56 first-class matches, 3461 runs at an average of 46.77 and you can throw in 70 wickets at 33.35.”
2. Jack Clayton (Queensland)
“Also 24, 19 first-class matches, 935 runs at 32.24 – two hundreds and six 50s.”
“So, that’s not a great looking record, but what I love about Clayton is his technique and his temperament and when all of Queensland’s Australian players are playing for Queensland, Clayton still holds his place in the team.
“That’s how highly they think of him. He looks the complete player. I really like him. He’s my number two.”
3. Nathan McSweeney (Queensland/South Australia)
“26 matches, 1534 runs at 34 with four hundreds and seven 50s. He’s also the captain of the Australia A team, so they feel he’s got some leadership capacity as well.”
“A very well organised batsman, highly touted, only 24 – I’ve got a suspicion he might be next cab off the rank if a position was to become available.”
4. Aaron Hardie (Western Australia)
“His numbers just speak for themselves. 30 matches, 1595 runs at 43. He’s performed well in Sheffield Shield finals in the past – he does bat a bit lower than some of the other players we’re mentioning here because he is an all-rounder as well.”
“He’s got 62 wickets at 27.74, so he is a genuine all-rounder.
“I think he is more of a batsman than a bowler, but I like him. He hits the ball extremely hard and he’s got a very good technique and I love the fact that he gets runs under pressure.”
5. Will Pucovski (Victoria)
“This is a difficult one, but I’m going to put Pucovski in at number five. He’s obviously had his challenges, but he is only 25.”
“Clearly, he’s still got 10 years minimum left to play for Australia as he overcomes a lot of the challenges he has recently had.
“He’s played 34 matches and made 2197 runs at 43.94. His average was a lot higher than that if you take out what he’s done for Victoria this year.
“He hasn’t set the world on fire, but he’s played in some difficult conditions for batting, but the key is that he’s stringing some games together and the fact that he’s not doing particularly well, but still wants to play is I think a really big tick.
“I think he’s in the best position mentally he’s been in for a long time and the runs will come.”
6. Campbell Kellaway (Victoria)
“He’s just 21 – 16 matches for Victoria, 740 runs at an average of 27, with four 50s.”
“That average doesn’t look great, but I tell you what the amount of times he has got valuable runs for Victoria when it has been tough is really noticeable.
“We’ve also got to add that he got 100 against South Africa last year against their number one bowling attack and he proved he’s got the ability to play against some of the best bowlers in the world.
“I think he’s going to play a lot of cricket for Australia.”
7. Ollie Davies (New South Wales)
“Now, he’s only played five matches of first-class cricket – I’m not talking about BBL, just red-ball cricket – he defies convention with the way he goes about it, but already five matches, 427 runs at 53.”
“He is a game-breaker, he’s in that Jake Fraser-McGurk category, but I think there’s just a bit more with Ollie.
“I love that he has this positive intent the way he goes about it, but I think he has the technique to back it up.”
Listen to Adam White’s top seven and those unlucky to miss out below!
