Worrying Aussie cricket truth that could spell trouble when number of Test veterans retire
Only five men born between 1994 and 1998 have played Test cricket for Australia.
Australian selectors are facing a serious crisis in the coming years as a result of their unwavering loyalty to several high-profile cricket stars. Aussie fans have been blessed with a strong generation of cricketers, which has resulted in them taking out major tournament after major tournament. But as a result, numerous quality players from the following generations have been given little to no chance at the top level.
And as a result, Australian cricket is at risk of being burnt by a missing generation, with the mid-1990s on track to produce the fewest number of Test players in any era of the men's game in the 20th century. The importance of selectors' management of generational change has long been a burning issue, including this summer when just one Australian player under the age of 30 began the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.
While Australia's team to start this summer is similar to those in 2004 and 2014, a bigger problem remains the lack of talented players in their late 20s making an irresistible case for selection in the Sheffield Shield. And it means just five men born between 1994 and 1998 have so far played Test cricket for Australia.
They are South African-born Marnus Labuschagne, English-born Matt Renshaw, virtually-retired Will Pucovski, Jhye Richardson and Matt Kuhnemann. Already, the next era of Australian Test players looks likely to overtake that age bracket, with Sam Konstas, Nathan McSweeney, Cameron Green and Todd Murphy.
Australian selectors regularly turn to veterans as replacements
Selectors have also regularly looked to older players to come in when gaps have arisen, with Scott Boland and Michael Neser among the most recent to debut. A downturn in the Test production line is natural during long periods of stability, but even still, the mid-1990s are a statistical outlier.
Since 1900, an average of 3.38 Test players are born each year, or 17 in any five-year period. And since World War II, the next lowest production line of players comes from those born between 1976 and 1980, with nine graduating to Test cricket after the golden generation playing in the early 2000s.
Still, not since 1898-1902 has any era produced fewer Test players than the mid-1990s, with only four emerging from that period. Regardless, Cricket Australia is adamant the transition of the current Test team is not a concern.
"The selectors are on record as saying age isn't a key consideration, it's more about performance and how the team fits together," high-performance boss Ben Oliver said earlier this summer. "That can be true of a younger player at the start of their career or someone with more experience at international level.
"We're seeing some good performances coming through at both Sheffield Shield and Australia A fixtures. "We are starting to see some really strong performances there and we're seeing that translate into some consistent domestic performances.
"What we do feel confident about is the ability over the last three or four years, to have introduced a fairly high number of players to international cricket through limited-overs formats. We're building our depth of people who have had exposure to that level of intensity and competition. We are confident we will see that transfer into the Test team at an appropriate time."
Australian Test side set to lose several players in coming years
Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith and Nathan Lyon are all 35 or older and will likely only have a summer or two left. While Todd Murphy appears likely to replace Lyon when the time comes, filling the shoes of Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith is far more tricky.
The shortage of top-order batsmen in Australia has become clearer than ever in the search for David Warner's replacement. McSweeney was given the opportunity to impress to start the summer but he has been dropped for the fourth Test against India, with youngster Sam Konstas expected to make his debut in Melbourne. And away from them, there aren't many batting options knocking down the door for selection, which was a major reason Warner held onto his spot despite his form slump in the twilight of his career and why the struggling Labuschagne and Smith haven't faced the axe.
And the bowling department is even more of a concern, with the much-feared fast bowling unit of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood all likely to call time on their careers in the coming years. Starc, 34, is the oldest of the trio and the most likely to retire first. The quick in recent years has gone from the pinnacle pace bowler in the world to one of the best, as his averages have slowly been on the decline.
While Hazlewood turns 35 this summer and has battled several injury niggles in past seasons. The one that has the most longevity left is Cummins, 31. But even he is likely only a few years away from calling time on his career. And more worrying is the man who will replace the now-injured Hazlewood in the final two games of the Test series against India, Scott Boland, is also 35.
with AAP
