Australian cricket fans have been spoilt for choice over the last decade.
Not only are we the reigning World Test Champions and current holders of the Ashes, but our men’s team has also enjoyed a remarkable run with 54 wins, 29 losses, and 16 draws in their last 99 Tests, dating back to March 2014.
Our Test side has remained largely unchanged during that period, and we’ve been fortunate to witness some of the highest-quality players this country has ever produced.
While players like Steve Smith, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, and Usman Khawaja get plenty of accolades, today I want to focus on our four-headed bowling attack.
Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, and Nathan Lyon have been mainstays of the Australian XI for over a decade, consistently performing at a world class level.
Their combined stats tell the story: 350 matches, 12,894.5 overs, 2,685 maidens, and 1,430 wickets.
We may never see a cartel like this again, so it’s important to appreciate them while they’re still in action.
However, with Starc (34), Cummins (31), Hazlewood (33), and Lyon (36) all entering the twilight of their careers, it’s clear that we’re on the verge of a generational shift in our pace attack.
Pace bowling is notoriously demanding on the body. Brett Lee retired at 33, Mitchell Johnson at 34, and given the toll it takes, there’s every chance we only have a few summers left with some of these all-time greats.
Over the last decade, Australia has only debuted two pacemen under the age of 22—Jhye Richardson and Josh Hazlewood.
So, who’s next in line to carry the torch?
I’ve sifted through Sheffield Shield scorecards and highlights to find out which quicks are emerging as potential future Test stars.
Fergus O’Neill (Victoria)
At just 23, O’Neill is already leading the attack for Victoria. He finished fifth for most wickets in the 2023/24 Shield season (40 wickets at an average of 17.25) and was named Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year at the 2024 Allan Border Medal awards.
While his bowling action isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing, O’Neill bowls with venom and hits the deck hard, troubling some of the countries best batsmen.
His first innings against NSW at the MCG this season was a standout: 17 overs, 5 maidens, 4/29, dismissing players like Nic Maddinson, Steve Smith, and Moises Henriques. Smudge couldn’t score off him.
With time on his side and more strong Shield performances, O’Neill could soon earn a call-up as part of the Test squad.
Jordan Buckingham (South Australia)
The South Australian quick bears a strong resemblance to Josh Hazlewood in terms of bowling style and already has a seven-wicket haul to his name in the Sheffield Shield.
Buckingham’s record—68 wickets at 27.92 in 19 first-class matches—is impressive, and we’ll likely see him feature prominently for the Adelaide Strikers this BBL season.
He’s gained a bit of attention for giving Usman Khawaja an almighty send-off in a viral clip, but to push for a Baggy Green, he’ll need to shave a few runs off that average.
Jhye Richardson (Western Australia)
Richardson is one of the more familiar names on this list, having already earned a Baggy Green and taken a Test five-wicket haul.
But to be part of Australia’s long-term plans, he needs to stay fit.
Richardson secured a Cricket Australia contract for the 2024/25 season, but the selectors will want to see him get a consistent run without injury setbacks.
His career has been plagued by hamstring and side strains, along with an unlucky shoulder injury. The 28-year-old’s future hinges on his ability to stay on the park.
Xavier Bartlett (Queensland)
A good Gold Coast boy, Bartlett has already made a name for himself in the Big Bash, playing for the Brisbane Heat, and has featured in a handful of white-ball games for Australia.
At 26, Bartlett is on the older side compared to some others on this list, but with solid first-class stats—73 wickets in 21 matches at an average of 26.39—he remains a serviceable Shield bowler.
However, it might take an early retirement from one of the current big four for him to break into the Test team.
Lance Morris (Western Australia)
Morris is one of the most exciting prospects on this list and is perhaps the closest to a Test debut.
Nicknamed “The Wild Thing,” he has some big shoes to fill, especially with comparisons to Shaun Tait’s blistering pace.
Morris has the X-factor that could see him become a dominant force at the next level.
His pace is head and shoulders above anyone else on this list, and he could be the next poster boy of Australian fast bowling, following in the footsteps of Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson, and Brett Lee.
Currently sidelined with a quad strain, Morris hasn’t played a Shield match in nearly 12 months, so the upcoming season will be crucial for both him and the selectors.
Morris boasts 74 first-class wickets in 22 games at an average of 25.44, and fingers crossed we’ll see him back in action soon.
Tom Whitney (Queensland)
It’s early days for Whitney, but his Shield debut against South Australia last week was hard to ignore.
The 21-year-old Brisbane boy made an immediate impact, finishing with figures of 5/57 and 3/62, with his yorkers causing all sorts of trouble for SA’s batsmen at Allan Border Field.
Whitney also represented Australia at the Under-19 World Cup in 2022, and while it’s a stretch to expect him in the Test side anytime soon, he’s definitely one to blackbook this Shield season.
Cause for concern?
As we look to the future of Australian cricket, there’s a genuine concern about who will fill the massive void left by Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood, and Lyon when they inevitably hang up their boots.
While there are a few promising bowlers making a name for themselves in the Sheffield Shield, none are currently at the level needed or expected to replace the dominance of our current attack.
Our big four have not only set an extraordinarily high standard but have kept an entire generation of cricketers out of the national team.
The question now is whether the next crop of quicks can step up when their time comes—or whether Australian cricket will face a transitional period as we search for the next great Australian bowling attack.