{"id":477574,"date":"2025-10-30T21:04:37","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T22:04:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=477574"},"modified":"2025-10-30T23:19:51","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T23:19:51","slug":"prada-wearing-young-gun-knocking-on-door-for-test-debut","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=477574","title":{"rendered":"Prada-wearing young gun knocking on door for Test debut"},"content":{"rendered":"

A\ufeffustralia will be without captain Pat Cummins<\/a> for the start of the Ashes<\/a> series – but all that has done is prove the enormous depth in the country's fast-bowling stocks.<\/p>\n

While the talk has centred around the make-up of Australia's batting order, the \ufeffstability in the bowling ranks is something that should have England nervous.<\/p>\n

Cummins is expected to miss at least the first Test<\/a> as he recovers from a back injury, but the hosts will lose very little with Scott Boland in line to replace him.<\/p>\n

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\"Australia's<\/p>\n

Boland averages \ufeff16.53 with the ball in his Test career and his average on home soil is even lower, making for a seamless transition with the captain sidelined.<\/p>\n

He will join Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon to form a quality attack in Perth and one that still clearly has what it takes to get the job done.<\/p>\n

But even when you dig a little deeper, the Aussies are absolutely blessed should one of those three seamers become unavailable and force another change to the XI.<\/p>\n

"There's still guys who are performing that we could look at bringing in … we've got a lot of options," Aussie icon Merv Hughes told Wide World of Sports this week.<\/p>\n

Wide World of Sports runs the rule over the next best options for the Aussie bowling cartel.<\/p>\n

Michael Neser<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

For the longest time he was the man carrying the drinks, but there's no doubting the quality of Michael Neser, even as he approaches his 36th birthday early next year.<\/p>\n

The right-arm swing bowler \ufeffhas only managed two appearances at Test level but did impress with those limited opportunities and would make for a safe option.<\/p>\n

Neser's first-class record is sublime with 410 wickets at an average in the low-20s and would be a perfect candidate to step into the side at his home ground of the Gabba, especially with the Brisbane ground hosting the pink-ball Test this summer.<\/p>\n

His quality lower-order batting could also be an important attribute if called upon.\ufeff<\/p>\n

Sean Abbott falls in a similar spot to Neser, having plenty of experience on his side and would be another safer option for George Bailey and the rest of the selectors.\ufeff<\/p>\n

Fergus O'Neill\ufeff<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

If the aforementioned Neser \ufeffis a safe option to bring into the squad, Fergus O'Neill<\/a> would be a selection not many are calling for and perhaps a slight gamble – but his numbers at first-class level and his age make him a genuine consideration for national selectors.<\/p>\n

The 24-year-old has been making a name for himself in the Sheffield Shield competition and recently spent time overseas playing in the County Championship.<\/p>\n

O'Neill has \ufeffalready taken 140 wickets at an average of 20.79 from his 36 red-ball games, which includes an eye-catching eight five-wicket hauls.<\/p>\n

The one knock on the Victorian, fair or not, surrounds his lack of pace through the air.<\/p>\n

But according to Hughes, that shouldn't be held against O'Neill and his ability to take wickets on a regular basis should have him in the Test mix. \ufeff<\/p>\n

"Terry Alderman didn't bowl express pace either," he told Wide World of Sports.<\/p>\n

"Bowlers are often selected if they can bring a point of difference, that's the great thing about cricket, and he brings that.<\/p>\n

"Fergus O'Neill is a quality bowler and if someone like Hazlewood was to get injured, he might come into that type of role."<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DP28eTfiUHg\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp<\/a><\/p>\n

O'Neill has perhaps flown under the radar and might not be the sexiest potential pick for the Ashes squad, but cricket is a numbers-based game and his are at an elite level.<\/p>\n

On top of that, O'Neill would bring youthful exuberance to the ranks and doesn't lack in the mongrel department\ufeff, which is never a bad thing when playing against England.<\/p>\n

Stan Sport presenter Adam Peacock backed the new-age approach from O'Neill early in his career with Victoria and Melbourne Renegades.<\/p>\n

"Not many cricketers I've seen field in Prada sunnies – he will do things his way, I don't mind that at all," he said on the Willow Talk<\/em> podcast.<\/p>\n

O'Neill has already represented Australia A\ufeff and is a more than handy batter, already scoring three half-centuries in his young career.<\/p>\n

Jhye Richardson<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

He's become a bit of a forgotten man in the Australian set-up due to injuries, but when fit and firing there are few more dangerous bowlers than Jhye Richardson<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The 29-year-old has been absolutely luckless in recent years and hasn't donned the baggy green in almost four years, despite many hopes of a long career in the side.<\/p>\n

Richardson struggled last summer with a shoulder issue and underwent surgery<\/a> in a bid to be back on deck in time for the Ashes, but is yet to return for Western Australia.<\/p>\n

However, according to Australian great \ufeffBrad Haddin, the right-arm quick would place himself firmly in the mix if he can get back on the field sooner rather than later.<\/p>\n

"He's a really interesting case – if he's right, he's in the squad," Haddin told Willow Talk<\/em>.<\/p>\n

"He's had surgery to be available for the Ashes and I hope that come three, four and five, he's in the equation. I understand that he's back bowling, let's hope that we see him playing maybe the last Shield game before then."<\/p>\n

Richardson \ufefftook 11 wickets in three Test matches prior to his injury woes.<\/p>\n

Riley Meredith \ufeff<\/h3>\n

\"Riley<\/p>\n

A left-field name thrown up by former skipper Tim Paine recently is Riley Meredith<\/a>, who would no doubt bring a point of difference if required to play.<\/p>\n

Meredith has played a handful of white-ball games for Australia during his career, but hasn't been able to break into the Test squad yet.<\/p>\n

The 29-year-old can bowl express pace and has been performing well for Tasmania to start the Shield season, \ufeffclaiming 11 scalps at an average of 14.09 in three matches.<\/p>\n

"I think he's someone that when the wickets get flatter and you need air speed, he might be someone that comes into the equation as well," Haddin said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Xavier Bartlett\ufeff<\/h3>\n

\"Bartlett\"<\/p>\n

Another younger and lesser-tested option, as far as Australia's bowling depth goes, is Xavier Bartlett<\/a>, who has starred in the Big Bash in recent seasons.\ufeff<\/p>\n

The 26-year-old \ufeffhas forced his way into the ODI and T20 teams for Australia over the past couple of summers and his first-class record is modest with 96 wickets at 26.62.<\/p>\n

Haddin believes that his ability to move the ball could factor him into discussions, especially for the early Test matches in Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide.<\/p>\n

"The other one I think is a big show is Xavier Bartlett," the former Test vice-captain said.<\/p>\n

"He could come into calculations for the first two Test matches if something happens.<\/p>\n

"He's different to what we have and he does move the ball off the seam, he's a new-ball bowler and his name is there or thereabouts as well."<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A\ufeffustralia will be without captain Pat Cummins for the start of the Ashes series – but all that has done is prove the enormous depth […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":477576,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/477574"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=477574"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/477574\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":477583,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/477574\/revisions\/477583"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/477576"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=477574"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=477574"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=477574"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}