Peter Roebuck recently wrote an article on CricInfo, asking a simple question – ‘Who are cricket’s future greats?’. Unfortunately, apart from a statistical look at the modern greats and an expressed fear for the future, he didn’t really talk about any future stars in particular. So, I decided to make up a list of players from each Test playing nation, except Bangladesh, whose progress I am following and who I feel are more likely to be international cricketers of great caliber in the next ten years or so.
PS: I apologize in advance for the mangled statistics table!
KANE WILLIAMSON
Country: New Zealand
Age: 20 years
| Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s | Ct | St |
|---|
| Tests | 5 | 9 | 0 | 299 | 131 | 33.22 | 698 | 42.83 | 1 | 2 | 28 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| ODIs | 15 | 14 | 2 | 352 | 108 | 29.33 | 514 | 68.48 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| First-class | 29 | 49 | 2 | 1998 | 192 | 42.51 | 3732 | 53.53 | 6 | 9 | 242 | 12 | 27 | 0 |
| List A | 46 | 43 | 10 | 1537 | 108* | 46.57 | 2054 | 74.82 | 4 | 7 | 105 | 15 | 18 | 0 |
I noticed Williamson for the first time during a nondescript tri-series in Sri Lanka last year. It was his debut series and he looked so out of depth at the international level that I wondered what the fuss was all about, as he was touted as the next big thing in New Zealand cricket by the experts; but it was during the Test series against India later, when I was won over. The way he tackled the spinners and batted with a calm assurance indicated a mature head, and while tours of South Africa and England will be challenging in their own right, I foresee a great future for him; I wouldn’t be too surprised if he is the Kiwi captain when the 2019 World Cup rolls around.
DINESH CHANDIMAL
Country: Sri Lanka
Age: 21 years
| Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s | Ct | St |
|---|
| ODIs | 4 | 4 | 2 | 143 | 111 | 71.50 | 168 | 85.11 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| T20Is | 5 | 4 | 0 | 59 | 29 | 14.75 | 58 | 101.72 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| First-class | 33 | 52 | 7 | 2733 | 244 | 60.73 | 3653 | 74.81 | 9 | 13 | 306 | 56 | 62 | 11 |
| List A | 42 | 41 | 5 | 1010 | 111 | 28.05 | 1266 | 79.77 | 1 | 8 | 73 | 25 | 35 | 2 |
Early last year, when India sent a weakened team to Zimbabwe under Suresh Raina for a pointless ODI tournament involving the host nation and Sri Lanka, they had their bottoms forcefully kicked by both teams. Apart from that, I remember the tri-series for a brilliant century by Chandimal against the Indians in just his second ODI innings. Later, I found that he has a stellar record in First class cricket, while there is scope for improvements in the short formats. Still, he has impressed many with his attitude and leadership skills right from the U-19 stage; and with the likelihood of Sri Lanka losing the services of stalwarts Sanga, Jayawardene and Dilshan in the next few years, the spotlight is going to be focused on him for the foreseeable future.
RILEE ROUSSOUW
Country: South Africa
Age: 21 years
| Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s | Ct | St |
|---|
| First-class | 39 | 69 | 1 | 2967 | 319 | 43.63 | 4675 | 63.46 | 9 | 13 | 431 | 22 | 45 | 0 |
| List A | 48 | 47 | 2 | 1656 | 131 | 36.80 | 1786 | 92.72 | 4 | 9 | 186 | 24 | 26 | 0 |
I have to admit that I have not seen much of his actual game, but in the few matches I have seen him play for his domestic team, he has looked the part of a quality player. I noticed him first during the 2008 U-19 World Cup where he turned in some decent performances, and then saw him again during the initial Champions League T20; and I came away with the feeling that he is steadily improving as a player. He could very well turn out to be a major batsman in Gary Kirsten’s new Proteas. Like the previous players in this list, he has every chance of becoming the future captain of his country.
BEN STOKES
Country: England
Age: 20 years
| Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s | Ct | St |
|---|
| First-class | 26 | 38 | 5 | 1541 | 185 | 46.69 | 5 | 5 | 16 | 0 | ||||
| List A | 19 | 19 | 3 | 509 | 150* | 31.81 | 540 | 94.25 | 1 | 2 | 40 | 14 | 5 | 0 |
| Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10 |
|---|
| First-class | 26 | 32 | 1398 | 1046 | 28 | 6/68 | 7/145 | 37.35 | 4.48 | 49.9 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| List A | 19 | 9 | 236 | 207 | 14 | 4/29 | 4/29 | 14.78 | 5.26 | 16.8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Stokes fulfills the first criteria to become an English player – He was born outside the country 
…. specifically in New Zealand, where his father played rugby for the Kiwis. Once he moved to England and started playing cricket though, people started to take notice. Like most others in this list, I noticed him first during the last U-19 World Cup, where he scored a century against India. Apart from being an aggressive batsman, he is also more than a handy performer with the ball; he has already put in some eye-catching performances this season before a dislocated finger brought an early end to his season. Still, he looks to be the most promising young cricketer in England and it seems to be a matter of time before he makes his debut for the senior English team.
ABHINAV MUKUND
Country: India
Age: 21
| Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s | Ct | St |
|---|
| First-class | 40 | 61 | 3 | 3446 | 300* | 59.41 | 6207 | 55.51 | 13 | 9 | 435 | 17 | 29 | 0 |
| List A | 28 | 28 | 1 | 1550 | 130 | 57.40 | 1869 | 82.93 | 5 | 10 | 151 | 10 | 16 | 0 |
Such is the strength of the Chennai Super Kings, that they could afford to leave out one of the best batsmen in the country from the playing XI throughout their victorious campaign. Mukund is well known throughout the domestic circuit for his gluttonous appetite for runs. Along with his opening partner Murali Vijay, he has decimated many a new ball attack in the country. For his consistent performances throughout the last two seasons, he has won himself a place in the Indian Test squad to the West Indies in the absence of Sehwag and Gambhir. Don’t be too surprised if he edges out Vijay for the third opener’s slot when the two return to take their places.
JAMES PATTINSON
Country: Australia
Age: 21 years
| Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10 |
|---|
| First-class | 6 | 11 | 1156 | 560 | 19 | 4/52 | 5/76 | 29.47 | 2.90 | 60.8 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| List A | 15 | 15 | 760 | 659 | 26 | 6/48 | 6/48 | 25.34 | 5.20 | 29.2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
It would be an understatement to say that there are not enough quality bowlers out there today. It doesn’t look too bright for the future as well. One bowler who might prove to be the odd exception is James Pattinson. While his elder brother shot to prominence first with an infamous debut for England in 2008, it was always the younger Pattinson who was being talked up as a future star. With the gift of swing, he is slowly working his way up the ranks, from the U-19 side for his state, to the Australia U-19 to Australia A, and now to the senior squad. Even as Australia struggle to retain top position in the international rankings, they would do very well to look at a fresh crop of players, with none more promising than the young Pattinson.
JUNAID KHAN
Country: Pakistan
Age: 21 years
| Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10 |
|---|
| ODIs | 7 | 7 | 288 | 223 | 9 | 4/12 | 4/12 | 24.77 | 4.64 | 32.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| T20Is | 1 | 1 | 12 | 15 | 0 | - | - | - | 7.50 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| First-class | 35 | 63 | 7110 | 3562 | 167 | 7/46 | 13/77 | 21.32 | 3.00 | 42.5 | 6 | 13 | 3 |
| List A | 34 | 34 | 1590 | 1279 | 46 | 4/12 | 4/12 | 27.80 | 4.82 | 34.5 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Who else but a fast bowler would be the most promising young cricketer for Pakistan? While I would have normally gone for Mohammed Amir, I will settle for a less controversial choice in Junaid Khan. Like Amir, he is a left arm pace bowler who has been turning heads with his impressive ability for pace, swing and success in the domestic scene. Playing for the now famous province of Abbottabad, who are supposedly one of the weaker teams in Pakistan, he has built up an impressive reputation for himself. It was going to be only a matter of time before he made his debut for the senior side, and sure enough, he made his debut in ODI colors against West Indies a couple of months ago. His performance in that series indicate that with the right guidance and care, he can turn out to be one of the best fast bowlers in international cricket within the next few years. As long as Ijaz Butt and cronies don’t come up with an ingenious way to screw his career too.
DARREN BRAVO
Country: West Indies
Age: 22 years
| Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s | Ct | St |
|---|
| Tests | 5 | 8 | 1 | 313 | 80 | 44.71 | 767 | 40.80 | 0 | 4 | 30 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| ODIs | 26 | 23 | 3 | 635 | 79 | 31.75 | 872 | 72.82 | 0 | 4 | 46 | 15 | 3 | 0 |
| T20Is | 3 | 3 | 0 | 83 | 42 | 27.66 | 75 | 110.66 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| First-class | 23 | 35 | 2 | 1231 | 111 | 37.30 | 3 | 6 | 22 | 0 | ||||
| List A | 48 | 44 | 6 | 1491 | 107* | 39.23 | 2 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
Even if you have not been following West Indies cricket for the last year or so, you might be knowing that Darren Bravo bats like his famous relative Brian Lara. Fortunately for him, he has a decent record at both First class and Test level to back that fame…somewhat. While his half brother Dwayne has been an integral part of the senior side for a while now, Darren has earned a name for himself on the international scene only in the last two years. While his domestic records don’t scream run machine, his short stint in Tests and ODIs so far, indicate there is substance beneath the style. At the moment, he is not in the best of form, but for a team which comprises of batsmen who struggle to cope with quality international bowlers, his progress to a fully fledged champion batsman can’t come soon enough.
