Five batsmen to watch

New chairman of selectors Rod Marsh made it pretty clear where Australia needs to improve: batting.

A believer in picking youth, Marsh says Australia has enough young talent to produce world class batsman, ready to stand up to the rigors of international cricket for years to come.

Here are five young batsmen pushing for selection early in their careers.

Jordan Silk – 22 – Tasmania 

The Penrith-born Tasmanian burst onto the first-class scene with two centuries in his first three matches; the second ton a marathon 108 that lasted almost eight hours in the 2012-13 Bupa Sheffield Shield final. Performance under pressure secured a spot on Australia A’s tour of the British Isles in 2013, working on his game with then assistant coach Darren Lehmann and against the likes of Ryan Harris, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyon. 

Two more centuries in his first full season of domestic cricket had him in contention for the home Ashes series before a leg injury playing for the Sydney Sixers cut short his summer. Known as a patient, uncomplicated batsman, Silk’s technique is based on efficiency if not elegance, making the bowlers bowl in his scoring areas with rare errors in judgement. 

Travis Head – 20 – South Australia

A product of Cricket Australia’s pathway program, Head has gone from strength-to-strength in his young career. Selected in the 2012 U19 Cricket World Cup squad, Head made 37 batting at six in the final loss to India. Selected as one of six AIS Hampshire Scholars, Head spent the 2013 Australian winter in the UK playing division one cricket in the Southern Electric premier league. 

The time did him good, returning a far more complete batsman ready to line up for South Australia. Struck down with a bad case of the nervous nineties, Head was dismissed just short of his maiden first-class ton in three consecutive matches. The attacking right-hander finished the year with 504 runs at an average of 36, and will be given more responsibility without Michael Klinger at the top of the Redbacks order.

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Chris Lynn – 24 – Queensland

Initially pigeonholed as a limited-over specialist, Lynn’s belting of England in their first outing on Australian soil last summer in Perth signalled alarm for the tourists and a return to form for the talented Queensland batsman. A century would elude him throughout the summer; five half-centuries in 587 runs across seven Shield matches for the Bulls. 

Terrific form for the Brisbane Heat in the KFC T20 Big Bash League earned national T20 selection against England, playing two games but batting only once – a fine 33 not out off 19 balls. Powerful through the leg-side with a fluent baseball-like swing, Lynn has forced his way into Indian Premier League powerhouse Kolkata Knight Riders, and will feature in the top end Australia A quad series later this year.

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Ryan Carters – 23 – New South Wales

A stunning 2013-14 season at the top of the order for the champion Blues, Carters scored 861 runs at 53.81, narrowly missing Mark Taylor’s debut-season record. The wicketkeeper-batsman left Victoria in search of opportunity and found it in New South Wales, posting three centuries with a best of 154. Strong through the off-side and down the ground, Carters has the timing and temperament of a player beyond his years.

Jake Doran – 17 – New South Wales

Earmarked at an early age as the next big thing, Doran was selected for the Chairman’s XI match against England in Alice Springs, making 17 and keeping wicket. Compact, fierce and focused, Doran averaged 83 in his first U19 Cricket World Cup earlier this year in the UAE, the only batsman to have success against the spin assault. Awarded a rookie contract by New South Wales for 2014-15, Doran represented the Blues in Toyota Futures League throughout last year, holding him in good stead for the following season.