Cricket's Next Generation: Will Pucovski and Australia's other potential future stars

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  • Cricket’s rich history is dotted with legends who have left a lasting legacy on the sport. Through their performances with the bat, ball or both in several cases, these players have risen head and shoulders above their contemporaries to achieve greatness.

    For some like Sir Don Bradman and Sachin Tendulkar, the talent was undeniable from the moment they stepped on to the cricket field as a rookie. Meanwhile, others such as James Anderson, Virat Kohli and Younis Khan have honed their skills over the years to ultimately transform into extraordinary players.

    Many youngsters, meanwhile, have promised plenty in their fledgling stages before fading into obscurity or mediocrity. As such, it is never easy to predict the career trajectory of young players entering the game, no matter how talented they might be.

    While there is no telling where their careers will ultimately lead, there is nothing more exciting than watching fresh talents announcing their arrival in cricket.

    In this series, we take a look at some of the most exciting cricketers around the world who are aged 23 or below.

    As cricket’s most successful nation historically, Australia has a long tradition of producing world-class youngsters.

    Here, we look at three of their brightest young talents coming up through the ranks.

    JHYE RICHARDSON

    A blow for Richardson and Australia.

    A blow for Richardson and Australia.

    Age: 23

    Role: Right-armed pacer

    Strengths: Pace, control and swing

    Similar to: Stuart Broad

    With 13 international appearances already under his belt in all three formats, Jhye Richardson is a name which cannot be ignored.

    Given Australia’s wealth of options in the fast-bowling department, Richardson’s elevation to the senior team is quite the feat.

    With his wiry frame and modest height, Richardson does not really bear the look of an intimidating Australian fast bowler. Those doubts are soon cast away once he delivers the ball at the batsman and generates express pace which defy his physical appearance.

    The Murdoch-born pacer was selected in the Australia squad for the 2016 U19 World Cup in Bangladesh, but was unable to strut his wares after Cricket Australia pulled out of the tournament citing security concerns.

    Unsettling Australia’s big three of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood isn’t an easy task, though young Richardson is already knocking on the door. He has become a reliable performer for Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield after making his debut in the first-class competition in 2016.

    With an ability to swing the ball both ways at pace, the right-armed bowler has already put in some impressive displays in Australia colours. He claimed Kohli’s wicket three times in as many matches in the 2019 ODI series and his overall numbers were rewarded with a Test debut in the subsequent home series against Sri Lanka.

    Age and time are on Richardson’s side, and he should become a mainstay in all three Australia outfits in the near future.

    WILL PUCOVSKI

    will

    Age: 22

    Role: Right-handed batsman

    Strengths: Strong on the off-side, adept against both pace and spin

    Similar to: Steve Waugh

    While he has had to battle mental health issues for some time now, Will Pucovski is arguably the biggest young batting talent in Australia. He is a man who has been tipped for greatness by several Australia legends including Ricky Ponting, and it is not hard to see why.

    Having struck an accomplished 188 against Queensland in just his second Sheffield Shield appearance for Victoria, Pucovski’s ability was clear to see at the age of 19.

    A double-century before he had turned 21 was another indicator of Pucovski’s immense potential and he looked poised to make his Australia Test debut last year.

    However, he was overlooked for Kurtis Patterson in the first Test against Sri Lanka before leaving the squad due to mental health issues. At a time when Australia are struggling to produce young batting quality domestically, Pucovski is a rare bright spark with his performances for Victoria.

    He was in contention once again for Australia’s Test series against Pakistan last year, before pulling out due to mental health issues. A spate of concussion injuries has further derailed Pucovski’s progression to the senior grade.

    His talent might require careful nurturing on Cricket Australia’s part, though the potential to blossom into a Test regular for the country is clearly there.

    WES AGAR

    Wes

    Age: 23

    Role: Right-armed pacer

    Strengths: Pace, bounce and aggression

    Similar to: Ryan Harris

    The younger sibling of Australia international Ashton Agar, Wes is starting to make a name for himself after a break-out Sheffield Shield season for Western Australia.

    Unlike Ashton, Wes is a fast bowler of some pedigree who is starting to hit the right notes after a slow start to his professional career.

    He made his List A debut all the way back in 2016 for Western Australia, before moving back to his home state Victoria on the back of some unconvincing displays. At one point, Victoria team-mate Cameron White called Wes Agar ‘lazy and overweight’ and it is a verdict that the pacer does not disagree with.

    However, he has turned his fortunes around in style since moving back to Western Australia last year.

    Having shed the ‘lazy’ tag with plenty of fitness work, Wes Agar had a storming Sheffield Shield campaign in 2019-20. The 33 wickets he picked at an average of nearly 24 was only bettered by Queensland’s Cameron Gannon who claimed 38 scalps.

    In January this year, Wes Agar was crowned as the Don Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year by Cricket Australia for his Sheffield Shield displays.

    The competition for Australia’s fast-bowling spots is stiff, especially with fellow 23-year-old Richardson also vying for a place in the team.

    What he has shown in his first full first-class season, though, means that it is only a matter of time before an Australia call-up arrives for young Wes.

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