Age: 24
Right-arm fast-medium bowler
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He appears well-positioned for higher honours, if the statistics are any guide. Heading into the latest round of the Sheffield Shield, O’Neill had a super first-class record – 134 wickets at 21.2 from 34 matches, striking at 48.4 and conceding just 2.52 runs per over. Then came a destructive 5-26 to dismantle NSW on Thursday. The national selectors have also kept a close eye on him, and he impressed on a flat Lucknow deck on the recent Australia A tour of India. Some insiders see him as a Scott Boland clone, who may not set the speed gun alight, but can serve up a “heavy” ball. “He is a really good cricketer. I like his attitude. What I want is to see him bowl well on wickets that are flat. Mind you, they are playing Test cricket on seaming minefields these days, so you don’t have to worry about that too much,” one rival state official, who wished to remain anonymous, said.
A turn for the best: Tanveer Sangha has played white-ball cricket for Australia.Credit: Getty Images
Tanveer Sangha (NSW)
Age: 23
Right-arm leg-spin bowler
We haven’t forgotten the spinners. Off-spinner Todd Murphy has already impressed in the Test arena and appears to be the next man off the rank when Nathan Lyon retires, while left-armer Matt Kuhnemann is another option. But Sangha could be the leggie Australian cricket craves. One of five Blues selected on the recent Australia A tour of India, Sangha has played four one-day internationals and seven T20 internationals for his country. He has 40 wickets at 39.65 in 15 first-class matches so far. He didn’t play in the opening Shield game of the season, nor against Victoria this week. “He just needs to play more multi-day cricket. He is just a kid. He wants it, he has the right attitude. He just needs to play more cricket, as all spinners do,” one state official, who wished to remain anonymous, said.
Jumping Jack: Jack Edwards has the ability to be a third seamer in the Australian Test side. Credit: Getty Images
Jack Edwards (NSW)
Age: 25
Right-arm fast-bowling all-rounder
Injuries have hurt, but the NSW Blues captain is one of the finest emerging leaders in the land – and has the bowling and batting ability to have an impact at the highest level. His opening spell against Victoria on Wednesday, when he maximised the lively conditions, was superb, but there are questions around whether he has enough consistent high pace. Should he step up, close observers believe he could play as a third seamer in the Test team, much like Victorian captain Will Sutherland. Like Sangha, Edwards made the trip to India for the recent Australia A tour. He opened the bowling in the four-day clash at Lucknow, and also blasted 88 off 78 deliveries (11 boundaries, one six) with the bat. “He is bowling very well, good pace, too, up around 140km/h speeds,” one NSW insider, who wished to remain anonymous, said. “He has opened the bowling a couple of times. He has got that skill. He just needs to be careful how he is managed because he is also a top-order bat.”
Big summer ahead: Xavier Bartlett could be an Ashes option with Pat Cummins sidelined.Credit: Getty
Xavier Bartlett (Queensland)
Age: 26
Right-arm fast-medium bowler
The robust Queenslander will be familiar to Australian white-ball enthusiasts, given he had played more than a dozen matches for his country heading into this weekend’s series against India. His ability to present an immaculate upright seam position has prompted praise from fast-bowling great, Brett Lee. The former star young swimmer has also been a prominent BBL performer with the Heat and has had a stint in the IPL, but it’s in the Test arena where the Adelaide native, who has overcome back stress fractures, still wants to make a splash. “He hits the wicket hard. He is Boland-like. He is a smart bowler, too – really understands the game. He sets his overs up well, which is important as anything,” one rival state selector said.
Looking ahead: NSW quick Ryan Hadley is one to watch.Credit: Getty Images
Ryan Hadley (NSW)
Age: 26
Right-arm fast-medium bowler
Hadley isn’t exactly a young pup, but he has played only seven first-class matches. At 195 centimetres, he is equally capable of generating movement in the air as he is steep bounce. Blues insiders continue to rave about him, the chat growing this week after his 5-38 and 3-30 in the Blues’ 74-run win in Perth last week. “He has got quicker. Last year, he bowled super well late in the season. He has started off this year terrifically. He understands the game. He would be on somebody’s list to keep an eye on,” one NSW official, who wished to remain anonymous, said. “He has figured it out, he is good.”