Change in Australian selection policy?
Australia's unprecedented 15 straight test successes may not guarantee the current players their contracts
Steve Davie
21-Jan-2001
Australia's unprecedented 15 straight test successes may not guarantee the current players their contracts.
Perverse as it may seem to New Zealand fans former Aussie great Greg Chappell wants younger players introduced to the test arena with the experienced brigade including the likes of the Waugh brothers eased out.
Chappell has been quoted in the weekend edition of the Sydney Morning Herald as saying Australian cricket is in danger of going down the English path of only considering seasoned test candidates.
He says the Australian way has always been to "rush the super-talented into test cricket early, preferably before the age of 23".
Chappell backs his views by listing Australia's top 15 batsmen of all time, none of whom were older than 24 on debut - the bulk being 22 or younger. He says batsmen in the 19 to 23 age bracket are "fearless and believe they can player forever.
"They are also young and exuberant enough to withstand the knocks that inevitably come along early in a test career, and they're malleable enough to adjust their game to suit the test environment".
Chappell believes that once 25 or older players can hear the clock ticking and begin to experience self-doubt.
"They know their time is limited which tends to make them lower their sights and play more conservatively". He cites England's Graeme Hick as a prime example of a player who suffered through having to wait.
Food for thought for the New Zealand selectors?
Debut ages of Australia's top test batsmen:
(Rated by batting averages; 2000-run minimum)
Player Debut age Tests Runs Average DG Bradman 20 52 6996 99.94 GS Chappell 22 88 7110 53.86 SR Waugh 20 132 8722 51.01 AR Border 23 156 11174 50.56 RN Harvey 19 79 6149 48.42 KD Walters 19 75 5357 48.26 WH Ponsford 24 29 2122 48.23 SJ McCabe 19 39 2748 48.21 WM Lawry 24 68 5234 47.15 RM Cowper 23 27 2061 46.84 RB Simpson 21 62 4869 46.82 RT Ponting 20 39 2475 46.70 AL Hassett 24 43 3073 46.56 DM Jones 22 52 3631 46.55 AR Morris 24 46 3533 46.49