Spickery
PlanetCricket Writing Team
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2013
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- Tasmania, Australia
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The Australian cricket team might not be playing any international cricket at the moment but the Australia A series that has been taking place in Brisbane and Darwin has given viewers a look at some up-and-coming stars. On show especially have been three all-rounders in Mitchell Marsh, James Faulkner and Moises Henriques that are all keen to show they can replace Shane Watson when the time comes. In no particular order I will give an individual overview of where each player is at.
Mitchell Marsh - Age: 22 Domestic team: Western Australia
People could see the talent the younger Marsh brother possessed when he captained Australia’s Under-19’s team to victory in the 2010 World Cup in New Zealand. He made his Twenty20 debut for Australia against South Africa in 2011. He made 36 runs with the bat and bowled one over that went for 11 runs. His ODI debut for Australia soon followed against South Africa again in Ceturion. He made 9 not out and took 1-19 from 4 overs in a promising ODI debut. His disciplinary issues such as being sent home from the Cricket Australia Centre of Excellence in Brisbane and being ordered back to Australia from the Champions League Twenty20 in South Africa by the Perth Scorchers before the team’s final threatened to derail his career. He eventually set himself back on the right track before injury struck and he was out of action for a period of around 12 weeks with a hamstring injury, which he had suffered before on the opposite leg. He overcame this and is now showing the talent he has, highlighted by a magnificent 211 runs he scored for Australia A in a Four-Day game against India A. His bowling should also not go unmentioned, he recently took 5/60 against Australia’s National Performance Squad (NPS) in a One-Day game also playing for Australia A. With the Australian selectors no doubt taking note of Marsh’s performances a spot in the ODI squad for the tri-series against Zimbabwe and South Africa looks very likely for him. If he keeps up his impressive form Marsh could find himself jumping the queue of players contending to replace Shane Watson.
James Faulkner – Age: 24 Domestic Team: Tasmania
Faulkner has been a consistent performer for Tasmania for a number years. He won the Ricky Ponting Medal which is awarded to Tasmania’s best player for three consecutive years. His consistency rewarded him with debuts for Australia in the Twenty20 and ODI arenas in 2012 and 2013. His Test debut was against England in the last Ashes Test match in the 2013 Ashes series held in England, where he scored 98 runs in total and took 6 wickets altogether. Faulkner is recognised as a bowling all-rounder and is capable of closing an innings by bowling at the death. He regularly picks up important wickets for Australia and his slower balls can cost star batsman their wicket. With the bat Faulkner is an aggressive batsman. He helped Australian over the line against England in an ODI in Brisbane. He snatched victory from the jaws of defeat when he scored 69 runs off 47 balls in a last wicket partnership with Clint McKay. More recently, he scored 90 runs in a Four-Day game against India A for Australia A, where he was captain in the longest format of the series. This might be a clue that the Australian selectors think he is leadership material and could he be a future captain for Australia in the shorter forms of the game? His maiden First Class century still eludes him, which is one big box he needs to tick off. Faulkner should expect to play against Zimbabwe and South Africa in the tri-series for Australia’s ODI side and there is a possibility he could be in the squad for the Test series in the UAE as well, as a bowler with a bunch of Australian bowlers unavailable through injury. If Faulkner wants to have the responsibility of being Australia’s next all-rounder though he needs to score consistent runs with the bat at First Class level, whenever he gets the chance.
Moises Henriques – Age: 27 Domestic Team: New South Wales
Henriques was still in school when he first entered the New South Wales squad. Even from an early age he caught the eye of selectors. He made his first international appearance for Australia in February 2009 in a Twenty20 against New Zealand match but failed to preform only scoring one run before being run out and he did not bowl. The call up was bizarre considering he was very inconsistent at Domestic level. Henriques got more chances at Twenty20 cricket for Australia down the line and is a player the selectors always have in their sights. Henriques made his ODI debut in 2009 for Australia against India where he scored 12 with the bat and took 1-51 with the ball from 8 overs. The 2013 'India homework saga' will be stuck in the mind of many Australian players. It is a series Henriques won’t forget either because it was the series he made his Test debut. In his debut match Henriques scored 68 and 81 not out in his two innings and had the figures of 1/48 from 17 overs in the first innings when he bowled. Disappointment then followed Henriques by being on the outer of the Test side at the end of the tour and he has not played another Test match for Australia since that tour. Henriques reminded selectors of his presence when he scored 90 runs for Australia A in a Four-Day game against South Africa A. A strong Sheffield Shield season where Henriques scores runs and takes wickets is needed from him to ensure he is not left behind with the emergence of Mitchell Marsh and James Faulkner. The Matador BBQs One-Day Cup and Big Bash League later in the year is Henrique’s big chance of impressing selectors in the shorter forms of the game if he wants to continue his limited overs career with Australia. It appears he will miss out on selection for Australia in the tri-series against Zimbabwe and South Africa because of failing to put together consistent performances.
Mitchell Marsh - Age: 22 Domestic team: Western Australia
People could see the talent the younger Marsh brother possessed when he captained Australia’s Under-19’s team to victory in the 2010 World Cup in New Zealand. He made his Twenty20 debut for Australia against South Africa in 2011. He made 36 runs with the bat and bowled one over that went for 11 runs. His ODI debut for Australia soon followed against South Africa again in Ceturion. He made 9 not out and took 1-19 from 4 overs in a promising ODI debut. His disciplinary issues such as being sent home from the Cricket Australia Centre of Excellence in Brisbane and being ordered back to Australia from the Champions League Twenty20 in South Africa by the Perth Scorchers before the team’s final threatened to derail his career. He eventually set himself back on the right track before injury struck and he was out of action for a period of around 12 weeks with a hamstring injury, which he had suffered before on the opposite leg. He overcame this and is now showing the talent he has, highlighted by a magnificent 211 runs he scored for Australia A in a Four-Day game against India A. His bowling should also not go unmentioned, he recently took 5/60 against Australia’s National Performance Squad (NPS) in a One-Day game also playing for Australia A. With the Australian selectors no doubt taking note of Marsh’s performances a spot in the ODI squad for the tri-series against Zimbabwe and South Africa looks very likely for him. If he keeps up his impressive form Marsh could find himself jumping the queue of players contending to replace Shane Watson.
James Faulkner – Age: 24 Domestic Team: Tasmania
Faulkner has been a consistent performer for Tasmania for a number years. He won the Ricky Ponting Medal which is awarded to Tasmania’s best player for three consecutive years. His consistency rewarded him with debuts for Australia in the Twenty20 and ODI arenas in 2012 and 2013. His Test debut was against England in the last Ashes Test match in the 2013 Ashes series held in England, where he scored 98 runs in total and took 6 wickets altogether. Faulkner is recognised as a bowling all-rounder and is capable of closing an innings by bowling at the death. He regularly picks up important wickets for Australia and his slower balls can cost star batsman their wicket. With the bat Faulkner is an aggressive batsman. He helped Australian over the line against England in an ODI in Brisbane. He snatched victory from the jaws of defeat when he scored 69 runs off 47 balls in a last wicket partnership with Clint McKay. More recently, he scored 90 runs in a Four-Day game against India A for Australia A, where he was captain in the longest format of the series. This might be a clue that the Australian selectors think he is leadership material and could he be a future captain for Australia in the shorter forms of the game? His maiden First Class century still eludes him, which is one big box he needs to tick off. Faulkner should expect to play against Zimbabwe and South Africa in the tri-series for Australia’s ODI side and there is a possibility he could be in the squad for the Test series in the UAE as well, as a bowler with a bunch of Australian bowlers unavailable through injury. If Faulkner wants to have the responsibility of being Australia’s next all-rounder though he needs to score consistent runs with the bat at First Class level, whenever he gets the chance.
Moises Henriques – Age: 27 Domestic Team: New South Wales
Henriques was still in school when he first entered the New South Wales squad. Even from an early age he caught the eye of selectors. He made his first international appearance for Australia in February 2009 in a Twenty20 against New Zealand match but failed to preform only scoring one run before being run out and he did not bowl. The call up was bizarre considering he was very inconsistent at Domestic level. Henriques got more chances at Twenty20 cricket for Australia down the line and is a player the selectors always have in their sights. Henriques made his ODI debut in 2009 for Australia against India where he scored 12 with the bat and took 1-51 with the ball from 8 overs. The 2013 'India homework saga' will be stuck in the mind of many Australian players. It is a series Henriques won’t forget either because it was the series he made his Test debut. In his debut match Henriques scored 68 and 81 not out in his two innings and had the figures of 1/48 from 17 overs in the first innings when he bowled. Disappointment then followed Henriques by being on the outer of the Test side at the end of the tour and he has not played another Test match for Australia since that tour. Henriques reminded selectors of his presence when he scored 90 runs for Australia A in a Four-Day game against South Africa A. A strong Sheffield Shield season where Henriques scores runs and takes wickets is needed from him to ensure he is not left behind with the emergence of Mitchell Marsh and James Faulkner. The Matador BBQs One-Day Cup and Big Bash League later in the year is Henrique’s big chance of impressing selectors in the shorter forms of the game if he wants to continue his limited overs career with Australia. It appears he will miss out on selection for Australia in the tri-series against Zimbabwe and South Africa because of failing to put together consistent performances.
