- Pat Cummins and his side in tense series against India
- A major problem is looming for the national team
A quick look at the ages of the Australian cricket team for the SCG Test against India reveals there isn’t a single player in their 20s – leaving the side facing a savage drop-off as the likes of Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja and Nathan Lyon all approach the twilight of their careers.
At 19, Sam Konstas offers youthful exuberance at the top of the order, as evidenced by his series of audacious ramp shots on debut during the Boxing Day Test.
Tellingly, Konstas’ batting partner Usman Khawaja is almost double his age at 37.
Off-spinner Lyon is also 37 while Smith is 35, with paceman Mitchell Starc 34.
Some of the ‘younger players’ include Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head at 30, with skipper Cummins sitting 31 – and even the debutant in Sydney, Beau Webster, is 31.
It doesn’t bode well for the future, and presents a huge challenge for national coach Andrew McDonald and his staff as they struggle to maintain a winning formula.
Not a single member of the Aussie side to take on India at the SCG is aged in his 20s, as the likes of Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja (pictured) and Nathan Lyon all rapidly approach the twilight of their international careers
At 19, Sam Konstas (pictured on debut at the MCG) offers youthful exuberance, unlike his opening batting partner Usman Khawaja who is almost double his age at 37
Steve Smith is an automatic selection for Australia at Test level – but at 35, his time in the baggy green could be coming to an end
Sydney debutant Beau Webster is 31 – and while he has been rewarded with a baggy green following impressive Shield numbers with the bat and ball for Tasmania, he is a late bloomer rather than an raw, emerging talent.
It isn’t all doom and gloom though – batter Nathan McSweeney – who was replaced by Konstas ahead of the Boxing Day Test – is 25 and should return to the squad at some stage, while injured all-rounder Cameron Green is the same age.
McDonald doesn’t appear to be too concerned about a simultaneous mass exodus, pointing to Australia’s number one Test ranking.
‘We are always looking to future proof,’ he said in October after his contract was extended by Cricket Australia until at least 2027.
‘You have seen the changes in white-ball [ODI and T20] cricket…Test matches been slightly different, we have been really settled.
‘That’s not a bad thing … we’re number one in the Test rankings. ‘It is also very hard to change a settled team that’s performing really well.’
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