The race to be Mr 2000

First-class cricket in England has entered a new age following the debut of Hamidullah Qadri for Derbyshire this week.

The young off-spinner became the first player born in the year 2000 to play in the County Championship when he was selected to take on Glamorgan in the already historic round of day-night cricket.

Australia’s Sheffield Shield competition has yet to see a player born in the ‘noughties’ make their debut, although Western Australian quick Cameron Green – born in June 1999 - certainly made headlines of his own when he ripped through the Tasmanian line-up with a five-wicket haul in his maiden outing last summer.

With the Shield season still a few months away, here are six rising stars of Australian cricket who are leading the race to be the first player born in the 2000s to feature in Australia’s first-class competition.

Iain Carlisle 

Image Id: A3E8AE43485043838F96F1847FD66F88 Image Caption: Iain Carlisle // Cricket Network 

Birth Date: January 5, 2000 | Current State: NSW | Role: Fast Bowler

Iain Carlisle is a tall, right-arm fast bowler who takes the new ball and can bowl high-quality outswing at good pace. He impressed for NSW Metro at last year’s under-17 championships with an average of 16.88, before representing the CA XI at the under-19 championships.

Carlisle was a late addition to Australia’s U19 squad that took on Sri Lanka in Hobart earlier this year, where he collected five wickets from as many appearances.

Jack Edwards

Image Id: 3F3C0663F87C483F952DA74E5A1541AC Image Caption: Jack Edwards // Cricket Network 

Birth Date: April 19, 2000 | Current State: NSW | Role: Top-order Batter

New South Wales batting allrounder Jack Edwards is a strong right-handed batter who likes to take the game on and hit over the top, making him a dangerous proposition anywhere in the order.

The younger brother of SCG cult hero Mickey Edwards, Jack was the shining star of this year’s U19 series against Sri Lanka where he collected 273 runs in five hits as the youngest member of the Australian squad. His century on the first morning of the three-day game was particularly impressive, posting 106 from 186 deliveries after walking to the crease with his side at 3-45.

Zak Evans

Image Id: CC768B00048D4C9A888D6CFAD4652364 Image Caption: Zak Evans // Cricket Network 

Birth Date: March 26, 2000 | Current State: VIC | Role: Fast Bowler

Victorian fast bowler Zak Evans is an emerging strike weapon with an ability generate real pace and make like uncomfortable for opposing batters. Capable of swinging the ball both ways, Evans was at his destructive best during the U17 National Championships, before turning his attention to the touring Sri Lankans.

Throughout the three-day game and limited-overs series, Evans was the standout quick among a talented bunch with 12 wickets consisting of three four-wicket hauls at an average of just 13.17. Much like fellow Victorian James Pattinson, Evans has shown he’s not afraid to unleash an exuberant wicket celebration as required.

Jarrod Freeman

Image Id: BD55F7FA7C3C4E87AB4AE515291602F3 Image Caption: Jarrod Freeman // Cricket Network 

Birth Date: July 15, 2000 | Current State: TAS | Role: Allrounder

Hailing from the same Mowbray Cricket Club as the great Ricky Ponting, off-spinning allrounder Jarrod Freeman is certainly an exciting talent in his own right.

An economical bowler that has proved tough to get away with his control and pace variations, Freeman can also contribute quick runs with the bat, and has shown some flashes of brilliance in the field.

Mackenzie Harvey

Image Id: BBF6AF61E1A046F4873FEC287F44BD88 Image Caption: Mackenzie Harvey // Cricket Network

Birth Date: September 18, 2000 | Current State: VIC | Role: Top-order Batter

Mackenzie Harvey continued his rapid rise with a starring role in last year’s U17 National Championships where he averaged 57 with the bat as captain, before captaining Australia’s Under 16s in Dubai against Pakistan.

The nephew of crafty Australian allrounder Ian Harvey, the left-handed Mackenzie can score to all parts of the game and offers some clever right-arm medium pace, as well as being an excellent fielder.

In his stint as Cricket Australia XI coach for those championships, former England player Dimitri Mascarenhas saw enough from Harvey to suggest he was ‘a bit ahead of his time’.

Mitch Perry

Image Id: 68AF3FA6F3FF488E80A469FF989D6389 Image Caption: Mitch Perry // Cricket Network 

Birth Date: April 27, 2000 | Current State: VIC | Role: Fast Bowler

Victorian quick Mitch Perry emerged as a probing and economical seam option who bowls a consistent line and length with the ability to swing the new ball, both at under-17 and under-19 level.

He impressed at the Under 19 National Championships, picking up 10 wickets at an average of just 17.30 as a 16-year-old, and also picked up eight wickets in his Premier 1st XI debut for Monash Tigers last summer. Injury saw him ruled out of playing for Australia’s Under 19s against Sri Lanka.