The A list - for players I think are on the verge of national selection within the next 12 months. The original list featured George Bailey, Alex Doolan, Fawad Ahmed, Josh Hazlewood, and Joe Burns. Bailey played during the Ashes, and Doolan played in South Africa, so those two names fall from the list. Chris Lynn, Nathan-Coulter-Nile and Chadd Sayers join the list.
Fawad Ahmed (VIC) – 32, 77 fc wickets @ 32.50 (21 wickets @ 35.33 in 13/14)
In spite of having a mediocre summer, I still think this guy is currently our second best spin option, although has not been included in the A squad. Should the Oz selectors feel that they want to have two spinners in the squad for the Pakistan series, then this guy could get the call up... maybe. He'll either be a revelation, or a complete flop. I guess time will tell.
Nathan Coulter-Nile (WA) – 26, 102 fc wickets @ 28.86 (14 wickets @ 31.85 in 13/14)
Being a stand-by player during the Ashes tells me that the man with three names is not far away from getting his first baggygreen, and has subsequently been included in the A squad. He does look good, and probably deserves to be ahead of Hazlewood in the pecking order at this point. He's in the OdI & T20I squads, so just maybe a baggygreen isn't so far away.
Chris Lynn (QLD) – 23, 1869 fc runs @ 44.50 (587 fc runs @ 58.70 in 13/14)
As much as I probably prefer Burns, I have a hunch that this guy is going to be a monster when he gets his chance at Test level. He does look a bit special and now that he's played for Australia in T20 cricket, he's had a taste of international level and will no doubt be hungry for more. Has been selected in the A squad and will almost certainly bat at 4. Watch this space!
Josh Hazlewood (NSW) – 23, 87 fc wickets @ 25.49 (22 wickets @ 19.77 in 13/14)
I'm a bit undecided about this bloke, to be honest. He's had his good days and his bad days. He is still very much in the picture, but for now I do think it would take injuries to others before he gets his chance, otherwise he'll be waiting for quite a while. He did take 6 wickets in the first innings of the final, which effectively killed off any chance that WA might have felt they had. He could get lucky, but I'm not holding my breath. Has been selected in the A squad and will probably play.
Joe Burns (QLD) – 24, 2539 fc runs @ 40.95 (563 fc runs @ 46.91 in 13/14)
I reckon this fella is the dog's nuts. Whether the national selectors also think that remains to be seen. This bloke has it all, but will possibly have to wait for the post Pup & Twatto era before he gets his chance. Chris Lynn might also be ahead of him by a whisker.
Chadd Sayers (SA) – 26, 109 @ 22.87 (36 fc wickets @ 28.33 in 13/14)
Possibly still a bit of a left field selection, this guy has the numbers. He has played for Australia A and has been included in the current squad, so the selectors do have him in their thoughts. Maybe we won't see him on the away tours, and we might not even see him next year, but with the rate that our bowlers break down, anything is possible.
The B List – for players I think are still a year or two away from earning their first baggygreen. The original list featured the first three players on this list plus Tom Triffitt and Kane Richardson. Given that those two have spent much of the season toiling in the magoo's, I'm thinking that it's unlikely that we'll see them in the Test side any time soon, if at all.
Jordan Silk (TAS) – 22, 884 fc runs @ 38.36 (421 fc runs @ 35.08 in 13/14)
This kid is going to be special. From what I've seen of him, he looks to have talent dripping from him. He is so good in fact, that I've heard rumours that England are considering recolonising Australia just so they can have this kid in their team! He took a ridiculously spectacular catch in the Big Bash. Give him a couple of seasons and he'll be one of the best bats going around in Oz domestic cricket. A potential future Test captain. Similar to Chris Lynn on the A list, watch this space!
Nic Maddinson (NSW) – 22, 2409 @ 36.50 (546 fc runs @ 27.30 in 13/14)
This fella has been on the radar for a while now. I keep saying that he's a year away. He still is. As things stand, I don't see how the selectors are going to squeeze him into the Test side anytime soon... unless Dave Warner gets rubbed out for doing something stupid. Long term, I think Maddinson is an excellent prospect, although he will need to put up much better numbers than he has this season.
Mitchell Marsh (WA) – 22, 1543 fc runs @ 25.71 & 53 fc wickets @ 26.47(493 fc runs @ 37.92 & 15 fc wickets @ 27.66 in 13/14)
I've been on this guy's bandwagon for a while now. He gets better with every season. In a few years, he's going to be great. I'm now not so sure that he'll be a future Oz captain, not since the emergence of Steve Smith as a Test cricketer. But I do think he will have a bit future in the international arena, probably batting at six. If he stays off the juice, the world could be his oyster.
Sam Whiteman (WA) – 22, 1109 fc runs @ 35.77 (687 fc runs @ 45.80 in 13/14)
I've tried hard to peddle this bloke off to the Poms, but failing that, he just might end up playing for the baggygreen. He's highly regarded in Oz cricketing circles and moved up the ranks in WA ahead of the previously highly regarded Tom Triffitt. His numbers are good. I have a hunch about this geeza. Has been selected in the A squad.
Alistair McDermott (QLD) – 22, 74 fc wickets @ 24.02 (18 fc wickets @ 26.72 in 13/14)
Billy's kid looks alright. Queensland seem to be happy with him. He might be a chance at some stage in the future. There would appear to be several candidates ahead of him for now, but that could change in a few years.
The C List – for players who I think are dark horses for national selection. The original list included Aaron Finch and Jon Holland, but I've gone a bit cold on them in terms of getting a Test gig. I've promoted Chadd Sayers to the A list.
Steve O'Keefe (NSW) – 29, 126 fc wickets @ 24.83 (41 fc wickets @ 20.43 in 13/14)
I've mentioned O'Keefe first on this list because just maybe me might end up being the second spinner in the squad to play against Pakistan. The cagey Malaysian-born spinner has been around for some time, and has at one stage worn the arm-band for NSW. More than a useful bat, this guy once turned out for Australia A and did really well. If anything, I'm a bit surprised he hasn't been tried already, especially when the selectors seem to be auditioning everybody after SKW called it a day. This guy might just turn out to be one of those left field selections that the Oz selectors sometimes make, and he might just turn out to be a very shrewd selection.
Tom Cooper (SA) – 27, 2488 fc runs @ 38.27 (881 fc runs @ 51.82 - 2nd in runs scored in 13/14)
Having been the backbone for the Dutch cricket team for some years now, Cooper is coming off a bumper year for the Redbacks. He has played for Australia A in the past, and might not be too far away from another gig at that level. He does look decent, but is a bit of a long shot for a baggygreen, for now.
Jason Behrendorff (WA) 24, 63 fc wickets @ 24.20 (40 fc wickets @ 22.70 in 13/14)
This kid has been a bit of a revelation for the Wussies, and has found himself in the provisional squad for Australia A. He's no Mitch, but he does have some numbers that suggest quite a bit of talent. I've only seen him in the Big Bash, but he did look good. Stranger things have been known to happen.
Adam Voges (WA) – 34, 8973 fc runs @ 41.54 (769 fc runs scored @ 54.92 in 13/14)
Quite possibly one of the unluckiest blokes in Australian cricket. Every generation seems to have one or two blokes who are good enough, yet seem to miss out all together. Voges is such a cricketer. He's done well when he's played for the ODI side, yet has not been deemed good enough to play Tests. At his age, a chance now would seem unlikely.
Luke Pommersbach (WA) – 29, 2785 fc runs @ 39.78 (431 fc runs @ 53.87 in 13/14)
Admittedly, some sort of natural disaster would have to strike the Oz team before this guy gets a baggygreen, more so now givern that he would appear to be out of the game indefinitely. It seems a shame, because the guy can play. Yes, he's a peanut, but we do live in a world full of peanuts. I once predicted that this guy would one day fill the shoe of Ricky Ponting in the batting order. I guess the peanut tendencies got the better of him and effectively prevented that from happening.
Peter Nevill (NSW) – A one time under-study to Brad Haddin, Peter Nevill is still certainly good enough, but has possibly fallen back in the queue somewhat. He does look handy with the bat. Probably unlikely that we'll see him wearing a baggygreen now.
Callum Ferguson (SA) – Perhaps the longest long shot of them them all, Callum Ferguson has had a good year. He's experienced, and potentially could be considered if say, Michael Clarke hurt his back, and or somebody else also picked up an injury... or not.
The D list – for players who are more long term prospects. From the original list, I've dropped Peter Handscomb, Gurinder Sandhu and Ejaaz Elavi.
Travis Head (SA) – This kid is possibly the best prospect on this list. A gloveman who's been batting at three for South Australia, this fella could well be one to keep an eye on.
Ryan Carters (NSW) – This guy is coming off the season of his life. Having changed states seems to have done wonders, leaving the sinking ship that was Victoria where he was a fringe player, to New South Wales where he was a key player in a Sheffield Shield winning season. The selectors will obviously have a big decision to makes when Brad Haddin retires, and this fella could well find himself propelled to the front of the queue.
James Muirhead (VIC) – I have to say, this kid impressed me when he turned out for Australia in the T20I series recently played. He generated good turn off the pitch, and picked up wickets. I would say that he bowled with a maturity far beyond his years. The Vic selectors, however, obviously didn't think so as they dropped him from the under performing Shield side toward the end of the season. Give him a few years. Just maybe we might see him in the Test arena.
Kurtis Patterson (NSW) – I'm a bit undecided about this kid. He did burst onto the domestic scene a couple of years ago, and did score runs against the Vics this season, but did absolutely nothing for the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash. Rated as the next big thing as a junior, his greatness is yet to materialize as a senior player. He could still make it, but at this stage, he would appear to be several seasons away from doing so.
William Bosisto (WA) – This kid captained the Oz U/19's and handling himself pretty well by all accounts. He clearly values his wicket. His chances for WA have been a bit think on the ground, but it's still early days.
Ben McDermott(QLD) – Billy's younger kid found himself playing for he Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash. He looked a bit green. A wicket-keeper batsman, he would appear to have a big future in Queensland, and possibly might just have one for the baggygreen.
Jaron Morgan (WA) – Current member of the Oz under 19's, this middle order batsman seems to be the best of his class, which on paper looks like a cast of unknowns. Maybe in the coming years, this kid might just make a bit of a name for himself.
The E list – This list contains players who have played Test cricket, but remain outside the XI, awaiting their next chance. There are other players floating about in Oz dometic cricket with a baggygreen, but these ar the ones that I'd imagine the selectors think about when they have their little get togethers.
Peter Siddle (VIC) – One of the unsung heroes of Oz cricket, the boy from Bairnsdale certainly knows his craft, and arguably bowls with more heart than anybody else out there. He may have been overlooked for fellow Renegade James Pattinson in the last Test against the Saffers, but we haven't seen the last of this fella.
Shaun Marsh (WA) – In my opinion, this bloke was pretty lucky to be selected for the Oz tour of South Africa, then unlucky to be pulled due to injury, then lucky again that he was called up to replace an injured Twatto, but unlucky to be dropped when Twatto regained his fitness. I like Marsh in the short forms, but I'm not exactly in love with him in terms of playing Tests. John Invererity obviously has a thing for thing... whatever it is, I hope he gets over it soon.
James Faulkner (TAS) – Potentially, Faulkner could well be a special talent. His batting would appear to be very under rated, but that might change. Prior to Watson, the Aussies didn't really have a fifth bowler, so long term, there might not even be a place for Faulkner in the Test XI. Should our wicket-keeper start batting at 6 however, Faulkner just might have a long and prosperous Test career yet.
Phil Hughes (SA) – Ah yes, lucky Phil... the man with nine lives, some might say. Highly rated as a long term Test prospect in Australia, ridiculed for his failures elsewhere, I still think this guy has the potential to be a run machine at Test level. I do think, however, that he will have to wait for Chris Rogers to retire before he gets his next chance.
Moises Henriques (NSW) – I like Henriques. He's benefited from the misfortune of others, and could well do again. I don't see him as a regular in the Test XI, unless he morphs into the next Jacques Kallis, but I don't quite see that happening somehow. He did knock out a decent score in the Sheffield Shield final.
Mitchell Starc (NSW) – I think this guy has the potential to be one of the great cricketers of his generation. He has a star quality that I think will help keep Australia at the top of the cricket world or very close to it. More than a useful tail-end bat, as we've seen on a number of occasions.
Jackson Bird (TAS) – Having a player like Jackson Bird in the wings is what makes the Oz bowling attack so strong. Sure he sucked in England, but elsewhere he's been fantastic when he's had the chance. With the current three quicks cemented in the Test XI, Bird's chances will be few and far between for a little while, but anything can happen with the Oz bowlers.
Glenn Maxwell (VIC) – During the course of the Australian summer, Allan Border likened Maxwell to a young Kevin Pietersen. The “Big Show” would appear to have a big future in the short form of the game, but it remains to be scene if he can cut it in the Test arena. He was thrown to the wolves in India. My guess is that he'll get another chance at some point, and will do well. I've seen him play a few times and he definitely has talent.
Cameron White (VIC) – There just doesn't seem to be enough places in the Australian team sometimes. I've been a big Cameron White fan for some years. I've always felt that he would one day make it back into the Test side. It hasn't happened yet. Just maybe his ship has sailed. But you never know with the Oz domestic cricketer of the year.
Usman Khawaja (QLD) – Where do I start with this fella? He looks the part, has talent and technique, yet has squandered the chances he's had thus far. Similar to Phil Hughes, time is on his side. I still think he could become a special player, provided he doesn't get Khawajed the next time he does get a chance.
Ben Hilfenhaus (TAS) – Big Ben continues to lurk in the ranks of Oz domestic cricket, and doesn't seem to have diminished with age. A Test recall could happen at some point, although a Ryan Harris retirement and yet another injury to James Pattinson would help.
Doug Bollinger (NSW) – I've included Doug the Rug on this list because he still has it, as evidenced by a decent season for the Shield winning Blues. Similar to Hilfenhaus above, he'd need a rather large slice of luck to get back in there.
Trent Copeland (NSW) – I have to say, I'm at a loss as to why this guy slipped from the radar as dramatically as he did. Once touted as the next Glenn McGrath, he came and went in the space of three Tests in Sri Lanka. We might see him again... or not.
Tim Paine (TAS) – I still think Tim Paine will be the next Oz keeper when Brad Haddin retires, possibly after the next Ashes series. I've seen Paine a few times and I like him as a gloveman and as a batsman. Injuries have been unkind to him, but now that he's fully fit, I do think he's back in the frame and I do think he'll move ahead of Matthew Wade, even though the latter is in the national T20 side. He does face stiff competion, though.
Matthew Wade (VIC) – I've tried really hard to like Wade, and there is a lot to like, but he's not quite there in terms of what we're looking for at Test level. I realize that we won't see the likes of Adam Gilchrist again anytime soon, but Wade isn't even at Brad Haddin's level. Maybe Wade should focus his efforts on winning games for Victoria for a while, then we'll see.
Pat Cummins (NSW) – Arriving on the international scene a couple of years ago, this kid looked as though he had pace to scare the crap out of every batsman in the world... and then he broke down. With about half a dozen bowlers now ahead of him in the pecking order, it might be a while before he gets his next chance, if it happens that all. That aid, he could be one stellar Sheild season away from a dramatic re-call, just in time for the next Ashes series!
George Bailey (TAS) – Good ol' smilin' George will be forever remembered for his role in that famous Ashes walloping, and yet was dropped from the squad straight after. Australia's current leading ODI batsman deserved his chance, but alas, it was not meant to be. I'm not holding my breath for his next chance.
Ed Cowan (TAS) – Ah yes, this geeza. A run machine for Tasmania, less so for the baggygreen. I reckon this fella's chance came and went. Too many other better options have surfaced.
Rob Quiney (VIC) – No. Just no.
First XI for Pakistan;
Chris Rogers
Dave Warner
Alex Doolan
Michael Clarke (c)
Steve Smith
Shane Watson
Brad Haddin (vc)
Mitchell Johnson
Peter Siddle
Ryan Harris
Nathan Lyon
Shaun Marsh (12th man)
Australia A
Phil Hughes
Usman Khawaja
Cameron White (vc)
Chris Lynn
George Bailey (c)
Tim Paine
James Faulkner
Mitchell Starc
James Pattinson
Jackson Bird
Fawad Ahmed
Nathan Coulter-Nile (12th man)
Development XI
Nic Maddinson
Jordan Silk (vc)
Travis Head
Joe Burns
Kurtis Patterson
Mitchell Marsh (c)
Sam Whiteman
Josh Hazlewood
Jason Behrendorff
Alistair McDermott
James Muirhead
William Bosisto (12th man)
Australia in 5 years time
Phil Hughes
Dave Warner
Jordan Silk
Chris Lynn
Steve Smith (c)
Glenn Maxwell
Sam Whiteman
Mitchell Starc
Pat Cummins
James Pattinson
Nathan Lyon
James Faulkner (12th man)
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