The top six: Why these young batters are the next big things for Australia

7 hours ago 3

Australian cricket is rich in young talent, and that will be tested over the next two years as the likes of batting greats Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja head into retirement.

Here are six young guns aged 22 and under the national selectors are keeping an eye on, including an incumbent Test opener fighting to retain his spot ahead of next month’s Ashes opener in Perth.

While there are no guarantees, selectors will hope at least two, potentially three, of the six can become the bedrock of a new generation of stars.

Cooper Connolly (WA)

Age: 22
Tests: 1
Hailing from Perth’s northern suburbs and playing district cricket for Scarborough, Connolly made a whirlwind Test debut in Galle in February when, in only his fifth first-class game, he replaced Todd Murphy for the second Test against Sri Lanka. Connolly was brought in to add batting depth and handy left-arm finger spin, but was given only five overs and fell for four runs.

“He’s one we definitely want for the future, when he gets to the stage where he can press for a top-six batting spot, who knows? But that’s what we see for him,” Australian coach Andrew McDonald said at the time.

Regardless, the lad with the blond locks, likened to his idol Shaun Marsh because of his stance and cover drive, shapes as a key figure over the next decade.

“The one thing that stood out to me … is he loves the big moments. He’s going to fail at certain times in those moments, but I know that he doesn’t get overawed by that, he’s a very calm character. He’s a confident, humble young man, and I think Australia will fall in love with him,” WA captain and Australian all-rounder Mitch Marsh said.

Connolly is one of few Australians to score a half-century as a 16-year-old in an under-19 world cup. He has also captained the under-19 side. Had a key role at No.5 on the recent Australia A tour of India.

Fergus O’Neill congratulates Ollie Peake on his match-winning Sheffield Shield knock on Tuesday.

Ollie Peake (Victoria)

Age: 19
Tests: 0
It’s been a stunning 18-month rise for the son of former Victorian batter Clinton Peake. In this time, Peake played in Australia’s under-19 World Cup win, made his debut for the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League, and posted a half-century on debut in the Sheffield Shield.

Then came the invite to be a development player and travel with Australia on their Test tour of Sri Lanka last February.

This week, the slick left-handed batter from Geelong, who describes himself as a “little scrapper”, was the match-winner for Victoria in their Shield clash against reigning champions South Australia. In just his second Shield match, and fifth first-class match, Peake finished unbeaten on 70 from 147 deliveries to guide the Vics home in a testing chase of 231 at Adelaide Oval.

Close Shield observers say Peake already has the game to play Test cricket, but here’s a scary thought – he is still young enough to qualify for next year’s Under-19 World Cup.

Sam Konstas (NSW)

Age: 20
Tests: 5
The sometimes brutal nature of sport has hit Konstas, who enthralled the cricketing world with his audacious ramp shots on debut against Jasprit Bumrah at the MCG last summer, but has since struggled to find the middle ground needed to prosper at the top level.

Sam Konstas, Harry Dixon and Ollie Peake after Australia claimed the ICC under-19 World Cup in South Africa last year.

Konstas has every shot in the technical – and not so technical – handbook, but when to play these strokes remains a battle.

“He’s got all the tools, and I think he has the ability when he wants to, to absorb pressure. And he’s got the ability to put a lot of pressure back on the bowlers. He’s going to have plenty of experiences, and he’s going to learn from them along the way,” Australian batting great Steve Smith said.

A century for Australia A in India last month settled the nerves, but a double failure for NSW in the opening round of the Sheffield Shield last weekend in Perth means he is line-ball to hold his place in the team for the Ashes.

Harry Dixon has based his powerful game on his idol, Australian great David Warner.

Harry Dixon (Victoria)

Age: 20
Tests: 0
It would be unfair to say Dixon is a bull at a gate. But he has modelled his aggressive intent on idol David Warner.

Dixon has long been on the national selectors’ radar. His century inside a session against England in Worcester during the Australia under-19 Ashes tour of 2023 remains a talking point in cricketing circles.

While he has batted in the middle order for Victoria, coach – and former Australian opener Chris Rogers – told the Cricket Australia website he is considering shifting Dixon to an opening role.

“If there’s one player that Harry reminds me of, it’s David Warner. He can play shots that Warner – and potentially [Travis] Head – can play,” Rogers said.

Rogers says the similarities include Dixon’s ability to hit good balls just outside off stump conventionally through cover point or more unconventionally through the leg side.

Dixon missed Victoria’s Shield opener against the Redbacks after being selected for the overlapping Australia A one-day series against India A, but fans should brace themselves for the hard hitting to come when he returns to local shores over the next month.

Will Salzmann (NSW)

Age: 21
Tests: 0

“He definitely knows how to hit the ball,” was one comment from a state talent manager, who wished to remain anonymous, to speak freely. That, clearly, was the case in Perth last weekend when, on his first class debut, the fast-bowling all-rounder cracked 43 (seven boundaries) and 72 (10 boundaries and a six) at No.7 and was named man of the match in the Blues’ 74-run win over WA.

“There was something lurking within, and he found it in his first game; two fantastic innings,” NSW coach Greg Shipperd said.

Will Salzmann began his Sheffield Shield career last weekend with man-of-the-match honours.

This continued Salzmann’s strong pre-season form, including a century against Victoria in a scratch match in Sydney.

While he was given just the one over with the ball in Perth, he will have plenty of opportunity to shine this summer. Hailing from the Campbelltown Camden District Cricket Association, and representing Sydney University in Premier cricket, Salzmann was part of the Australian side that finished third at the 2022 under-19 World Cup, taking 12 wickets in six games, the most of any Australian.

Injury impacted his 2024-25 season, but he has enjoyed a taste of state white-ball cricket in recent seasons, with the Blues now looking to him to be a consistent threat in all formats.

“I am really proud of how I have responded physically and the big off-season I have had, but also mentally, tapping into the people in my corner and learning to mature on and off the field. I have high red-ball desires,” Salzmann said.

Hugh Weibgen (Queensland)

Age: 20
Tests: 0
Usman Khawaja, a teammate of Weibgen’s at the Valley District Cricket Club, has said he expects “big things” from the dashing right-hander, and that’s starting to show.

While he was captain of Australia’s victorious under-19 side at last year’s World Cup in South Africa, and was named captain and No.3 in the team of the tournament with an average of 50.66, Weibgen was made to wait by the Bulls’ selectors.

Hugh Weibgen celebrates taking a catch for the Sydney Thunder last summer.

But no more. For those who witnessed his maiden unbeaten century (115 not out from 94 deliveries) to lift the Bulls to a two-wicket win over WA in their one-day match at Allan Border Field last month, there was a feeling he is destined for higher honours – and soon.

“He’s, obviously, a very good young leader, and that’s something that’s going to come into it at some stage. I would love him to be captain in two or three years’ time for Queensland,” Bulls coach Johan Botha said.

Having spent the northern summer playing in the Surrey Premier League, Weibgen was handed his first-class debut last weekend, lashing 39 off 41 balls as the Bulls crushed Tasmania.

He was given a taste of the big time last summer when he was a substitute fielder on day five of the third Test against India, while he had six games with the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League.

A handy off-spin bowler, Weibgen has benefited from working with Queensland batting coach Wade Townsend and former Canada and South Australia all-rounder John Davison.

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