The most promising debutants of 2009

It's been a big year in Test cricket. Australia was finally dethroned from the top of the cricket tree, somehow managing to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in a see-sawing Ashes series; Bangladesh won it's first ever Test series against a West Indian side barracking for more money for less work; and Pakistan made a long-awaited return to the Test arena. So with this action-filled year in mind, I thought I'd cast a closer eye over the players to have made their Test debuts this year and name for you the five who I think have shown the most promise, and have the ability and mettle to have a big impact on the game at its highest level.

Phillip Hughes, Australia

I'm not going to lie to you, I'm a massive fan of Phillip Hughes. The kid's a talent, and it's no fluke that he averages over 60 in first-class cricket in the best domestic competition in the world. It's also no secret why he is billed as the shining young light in Australian cricket. Unfortunately, he was dropped during the Ashes, mainly due to Mitchell Johnson's inability to land the red thing on the big beige strip in the middle of the ground.

This was after having a superb debut tour of South Africa, where he slapped a ton in each innings in Durban against a fast bowling attack of Makhaya Ntini, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, and Jacques Kallis, probably the best in the world cricket since Australia's own Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, and Jason Gillespie of the early Noughties. That was only in his second Test, and he finished the series with over 400 runs at about 80.

Since being dropped, Hughes has attempted to epitomise the old adage that a player can't improve until he's left out, working on the supposed technical issues quoted by everyone's favourite selection committee as the reason for his demotion, and showing his mental toughness in largely ignoring the media reports about him that have been both positive and negative. Hughes' game revolves around effortless and consistent off-side play, with extravagant shots featuring in his early season form for his state side NSW. A few more big scores at state level will intensify the pressure on selectors to recall him to the Test side, and we could see the 21-year-old left hander back at the top of the Australian order very soon.

Kemar Roach, West Indies

For a large part of 2009, the West Indies side consisted of a combination of over-the-hill first-class players and extremely green youngsters who probably weren't good enough because of a pay dispute between the star players and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB). But there was one shining light, who unsurprisingly kept his place in the Test side when the top players returned on West Indies' tour of Australia. I'm talking, of course, about Kemar Roach.

The young paceman debuted against the touring Bangladeshis in July, and despite the West Indies losing, Roach took three wickets in both innings, displaying the pace, hostility, and control that was synonymous with the great West Indies pace attack of the 70's, 80's and 90's. Roach then went on to take a career-best 6 for 48 in the second Test, finishing the series with 13 wickets at 17, the best from either side.

Roach then came to Australia, and during the series managed to trouble, for one, Australian captain Ricky Ponting. Dismissing him on the first day of the first Test, Roach also sent him to hospital with a vicious bouncer in the third Test that struck him on the arm, before dismissing him with another in the second innings. It's not often you see Ponting bounced out, and a scalp of such pedigree only served to enhance Roach's reputation.

As I already said, Roach holds a strong resemblance to the legendary West Indies fast bowlers; his action almost mirrors the great Malcolm Marshall in particular, and with the gift of raw pace and an ability to control the ball well, Roach could go a long way to dragging West Indies cricket out of the doldrums.

Umar Akmal, Pakistan

The little brother of Pakistani wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, Umar announced his arrival on cricket's highest stage with a bang. Making his first-class debut aged only 17 in 2007, Umar slapped 855 runs in only nine matches and has adapted to international cricket just as easily. Fast forward two years to 2009, and the 19-year-old's sheer weight of runs made him an automatic selection for Pakistan's tour of New Zealand.

Nor did Umar disappoint; coming to the wicket in his first Test match at 74 for 3 after the departure of star batsman Mohammad Yousuf. Umar then departed at 7-293, scoring 129 runs off 160 balls, with 21 boundaries and two sixes in a tick over 3-and-a-half hours, combining with brother Kamran to put on 176 for the sixth wicket. The debutant then backed his first innings century up with a fifty in the second dig, and scored another two half-centuries and a 46 to finish his debut Test series with 379 runs at just over 63.

Many believe Umar to be Pakistan's most complete batsman since the young trio of Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Yousuf, and Younis Khan came onto the Test scene; Umar's attacking prowess extends to being able to play off both feet and all around the wicket, and if his scintillating attacking play can continue then his career will not only be excellent but highly entertaining.

Mohammad Aamer, Pakistan

Aamer has the potential to be the next Wasim Akram. Since being earmarked by the great fast bowler at the age of 15, the now 17-year-old left-armer has gone from strength to strength and is deserving of a place in the top-line Pakistan side. Debuting against Sri Lanka in July, Aamer took six wickets, including the prize scalps of Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, and Kumar Sangakkara (twice!). He showed extreme promise with his ability to swing the ball prodigiously, and maintain a consistent pace of around the 140kmph mark.

These same features of his play were evident during Pakistan's tour of New Zealand, where Aamer took seven wickets in three Tests. Although not an instant success like the other Test newcomers mentioned here (he averages nearly 40 with the ball), Aamer averages just over 19 in first-class cricket, and not much more than that in a handful of one-day internationals. At only 17 years of age, he has more time on his side than most others going around Test cricket at the moment. Watch out for him during Pakistan's summer against Australia.

JP Duminy, South Africa

Look, I know I'm stretching it with Duminy, as he technically didn't make his Test debut in 2009, but because he did so in December 2008, I think he can count. Plus, it's my choice.

Duminy is a talented left-handed batsman who came into the South African Test side on the tour of Australia in late 2008 as a replacement for the injured Ashwell Prince, but the 25-year-old performed so admirably that the fit-again Prince had to find a place in the side as a makeshift opener when Australia went to South Africa in early 2009.

In his first Test, he scored an unbeaten half-century and was instrumental in South Africa chasing down a fourth-innings total of in excess of 400. Duminy then enhanced his reputation by scoring a brilliant 166 at the MCG during the Boxing Day Test. Not only is Duminy's batting extremely impressive, but his fielding is exceptional and his part-time off-spinners are serially underrated. With some more consistent performances, and the impending retirement of stalwart Kallis, Duminy will be looking transform from an elegant tyro into an integral part of the talented South African batting line-up.

Honourable Mention: Wayne Parnell, South Africa

I've placed Parnell into this list as the "honourable mention" due to his not having played Test cricket yet. The 20-year old left arm swing bowler has, however, shown extreme promise at the limited-overs level. Since making his international debut against Australia in a Twenty20 last summer, Parnell has taken 11 wickets at 17 in eight Twenty20 internationals, 22 wickets in nine ODI's, including 2 five-wicket hauls, and has impressed with his ability to swing the ball at pace, while maintaining control as well. With the great Ntini coming towards the end of his career, Parnell is probably next in line for his spot in the South African line-up, or may even come in before Ntini goes.