Best in the Business-Top U-25 Players XI

The ‘future’ of a team sport may always be a question of intrigue among its old faithful and invariably the younger breed who are almost there in terms of ‘learning the tricks of the trade’ and who take the futuristic baton forward. The sheer ambition and at times grit and determination drive the ‘to be’ greats of the game forward and hence the spotlight never deters from their young and promising careers.The future of the gentleman’s game has never been a point of scrutiny as it always evolved the way it had to be, mainly due to the newly crowned stalwarts of the game. The Tendulkars, Vivian Richards or even the Richard Hadlees of the world almost pulled the game by its scruff and took it their way when their careers were relatively young. In today’s day and age of the ever evolving game, this breed of cricketers who are at the most 25 years of age is taking the game to another level with their priceless contributions to their respective sides. They are the present and future of today’s Cricket.

1. Joe Root. England

“Joe Root is the symbol of the new England. He’s not a gung-ho stroke maker like Ben Stokes or Jos Buttler, or even Moeen Ali, but there’s never any doubt about his intent when on strike; he’s looking to score at every opportunity. It’s an intent that marks the difference between the average batsman and the best international players” wrote Ian Chappell when this Yorkshire lad played an instrumental role in England regaining the Ashes at home in 2015. Making his debut against India, Root has only grown from strength to strength since that triumphant tour to emerge as the backbone of English batting. The last year saw him amass 2009 runs in tests at a staggering average of almost 63.70, with respect to his career average which is 54.90. Root is indeed a batsman on the rise. Batting higher up the order was to give much-needed impetus to lack-luster English batting in the ODIs as well. Root hit a purple patch in the winter of 2014-15 against the Sri Lankans where he made  367 runs at an average of 73.40, sadly he couldn’t turn the fortunes for his side in the World Cup of 2015 in Australia and New Zealand as England crashed out in the group stages. Joe Root is, however, England’s man for the present and the future, aged just 24, he is ever-growing in stature and the former Number 1 test batsman in the world is all set to become a true symbol of English cricket.

2. Quinton De Kock. South Africa

Quinton de Kock has become probably the most exciting young prospect of South African cricket for a while now, more so in limited overs cricket. His early blip in his test career may just be a one-off failure as this Johannesburg lad might eventually play the longest format of the game quite well, given that he is only 22. Showing his natural ability of ‘clean hitting’ in the T20 leagues. Quinton made his ODI debut against  New Zealand  in Paarl  in 2013 and has never looked back since. His treble hundreds against India in 2013 oozed grit and class coupled with aggression.  However, the young Quinton didn’t live up to his stature in the 2015 World Cup in South Africa as he saw his side exit the tournament at the Semi Final stage. His match-winning hundred against India in Rajkot bearing harsh conditions, re-instilled faith in his believers. Quinton de Kock had just showed why he indeed belongs at the highest level.

3. Kane Williamson. New Zealand

Kane is indeed ‘able’, at least for the near future of New Zealand cricket. Williamson has reached dizzying heights in terms of scoring runs in the recent times. He averages a staggering 94.2  in past year including five hundreds during this period. Williamson has also been a consistent player in ODIs as he stacked up 1200 runs in 2015 and  top scored with 45 off 42 deliveries in his side’s important win against Australia in the World Cup at home. Willamson’s career is well poised to attain a ‘great’s’ status as his career averages 48.36 and 48.02 in Tests and ODIs depict. Apart from being able to score at will the man from Hamilton was trusted with the captaincy in the absence of Brendon McCullum in the ODI series against South Africa.Williamson in not for the future of New Zealand, he is the ‘future’ of cricket in the Tasman country.

4. Tom Latham New Zealand.

Another young Kiwi, Tom Latham started reasonably well in his Test Career, with a prolific tour of the UAE against Pakistan in 2014. Latham always got starts but didn’t seem to find a way to break free until the defining UAE tour.He followed them up with decent tours of England and Australia where he scored 146 and 187 runs respectively in these short series. Latham also has a distinction of being the first ever batsman to score a fifty in a day-night test, in the recently concluded once in the Adelaide Oval. At just 23, Latham’s career engine is revving and ready, but just like a Gordan Greenidge or a Rahul Dravid living under the mighty shadows of Sir Viv or Sachin Tendulkar respectively, Latham too is adjusting to live under the next generation greats of Kane Williamson or Ross Taylor, but the young lad from Christchurch has every bit to make up a modern cricketing great.

5. James Taylor. England

Another gutsy English talent, this lad from Nottingham has shown more than just glimpses of his talent and class more so in the One Day Format of the game. Having a forgettable debut against Ireland as early as in 2011, Taylor played for England once again only in 2014 against Sri Lanka. He turned out to be a revelation on tat Lankan tour as he scored 170 runs in 4 games at an average of 42.50. Making the English squad narrowly in the 2015 World Cup down under, Taylor did contribute in the world tournament better than many of his teammates as he scored 149 runs in the 6 games his country played before being eliminated. Taylor was dropped from a revamped English side looking for answers in the aftermath of their World Cup debacle. The Nottingham-shire and England Lions player forced his way back into the senior side after some handsome performances in county cricket. There was no looking back for Taylor since as he proved his worth with his scintillating maiden- match winning 103 at Manchester against Australia. He followed up his good run with 149 runs in 4 One Day games against Pakistan in the UAE later in the year at an average of 74.50. Aged 25, Taylor is emerging as a vital cog in the English cricket or even one to look out for in the coming years.

7. Jason Holder. West Indies.

The full West Indian skipper, Jason Holder has gained the trust of the West Indian selectors at an early age of 23 years. Holder has ever since been a warrior always fighting hard fought battles. His brief career stands testimony towards his humble contribution of 19 wickets in 10 test matches and 48 of them in 35 ODIs. But it’s his batting that has come to the fore on more than occasion with the standout one being his magnificent match saving 103 against England in. He also has two fifties a piece in both these formats of the game as he punched well above hi weight in this department of the game where his specialty actually doesn’t lie. The West Indies, however, have not been great under Holder’s short tenure so far, but the Barbados man has never shied away from a fight, only making the game ever so great.

6. Ben Stokes. England.

An English cricketer with a large heart always did wonders for their cause. Sir Ian Botham, for example, was one such player who single-handedly played stellar innings for his country and when it was the most needed. Ben Stokes is seen as another. With a calm head over his shoulders, the man from Durham played his first series in the 2013 defeat of the Ashes in Australia. Ben Stokes showed heart and his fighting spirit at the WACA in Perth, when Mitchell Johnson and Co, were rampant. His 195 ball 120 in the second innings, made him seem as if he was playing on another track. England lost the game but had unearthed a hero. Ben Stokes went on play crucial roles in the New Zealand home series and then in the triumphant Ashes campaign at home. With 228 and 201 runs respectively in those series, Stokes also picked 4 and 11 wickets in his most successful part of his career so far. Stokes is a useful player in limited overs cricket big time, as his 32 wickets and 544 runs, striking at 86.21 so far in his 34 games. Ben Stokes is probably one of the most exciting all-rounders in world cricket today. If the potential actually unravels, it could be good times for English cricket.

8. James Faulkner. Australia.

James Faulkner became a household cricket name due to his exploits in the IPL, but he has also played a really big part in limited over international cricket. His 60 wicket sin 44 games, with 816 runs striking at 113.3 do not show the whole picture. A serious asset to any side he plays for James Faulkner had emerged as a specialist death bowler and  a ferocious finisher as his ODI strike rate suggests. Performing under pressure doesn’t seem to be an issue for the Tasmanian as he delivers the goods almost always when it’s required. 2015 World Cup Final’s Man of Match performance against New Zealand depicted just that. Life seemed to be a fairy tale for this talented young man, but his career hit a blip as he was suspended for drink-driving while playing in the English county season and successfully served it in the post-Ashes ODI series in England. Nicknamed ‘The Finisher’ James Faulkner is the an allrounder befitting a world champion side like Australia.

9. Mitchell Starc. Australia

Speed and accuracy, when combined, form a lethal weapon in the armory of pace bowling. Mitchell Starc has this, precisely as his unique strength. Hailing from Sydney, Starc has come of his own in international cricket wrecking havoc in opposition batting line-ups time and again in his stellar career so far. 90 and 91 wickets in 46 and 25 ODIs and Tests respectively, Starc has risen to become the Numero uno in world fast bowling today. Playing most of the games at home has also helped Starc in his style of ‘hit the deck’ hard bowling. His 22 wickets, through some extraordinary spells under pressure, in the triumphant World Cup campaign at home deservedly won him the ‘Man Of the Tournament’ award. With the latest retirement of Mitchell Johnson, one of the most important aspects of Aussie cricket in fast bowling, rests firmly on the shoulders of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazelwood. With Starc at just 25, leading the pack, Australian cricket seems to be in good hands again and the Rest of the world might have to endure another spell to world dominance from cricket’s most successful team.

10. Mohammed Shami. India

Mohammed Shami made the ball do the talking in his short career so far and has by far been India’s best fast bowling exponent in the recent years. Starting off as a limited overs bowler Shami bowled his heart out since his debut against Pakistan in early 2013. He made further in the roads against Australia at home where he picked 7 wicket sin 3 outings and away in New Zealand picking 11 wickets in the five games he played.By then Shami became the ‘go to’ man for MS Dhoni in the death in limited-overs cricket, but his performance in that situation has however been a mixed bag. Shami subsequently made his test debut against West Indies at home and then became an integral part of the Indian bowling line over a tough season of away tours in South Africa, New Zealand, England and Australia. Shami, however, fared reasonably well over the strenuous season as he picked 47 wickets in the 12 tests he played. A huge tournament such as the World Cup looked to have come to touch too early for Shami, as he led the Indian bowling attack in their title defense in Australia. Shami, however, responded astoundingly well by picking 17 wicket sin just 7 games that India played before exiting the tournament in the Semi Final Stage. Shami was, however, unlucky to pick up a knee injury and subsequently underwent a surgery missing the opportunity to build on his stellar career so far with a season at home. Shami most recently has been declared fit and been picked by Bengal to play in the Vijay Hazare trophy.

11. Mohammed Amir. Pakistan.

Mohammed Amir made his debut for Pakistan aged just 19 against Sri Lanka, in both the test and the ODI formats. The young Amir was an instant revelation as he picked wickets in heaps each time he stepped on the cricket field. With 51 wickets in 14 tests and 25 of them in 15 ODIs Amir was the next ‘big thing’ in world fast bowling until his career was cut short temporarily due to unfortunate events. He was having a phenomenal test series on the field on Pakistan’s tour of England in 2010 against Australia and England where he picked a phenomenal 19 wickets in 4 test matches. However, Amir was subsequently banned from all forms of cricket in February 2011, for his spot-fixing ‘no balls’ on that tour of England and the young sensation played no further international cricket since. However aged just 25, Amir has been cleared to play any form of cricket in September 2015 and is close to an international comeback into the Pakistani side in the near future, with the likes of Wasim Akram calling for his selection into the senior side.