Oh, how I love this sort of thread.
Everyone is going on about Australia's young players so I think its about time everyone heard of the less known young talent England have at their disposal. And not a mention of Rob Key, Simon Jones, Steve Harmison, Richard Dawson or Jamie Foster
Dear oh dear, Dawson and Harmison. Not at all up to your usual standard. At least you revised on Harmison not long after.
Ian Bell (Warwickshire) - Showed what he could do in his 1st season but had one of "those" seasons but will be back. A very impressive England U-19 and ECB Academy player, you can't doubt his class.
No, you can't.
Owais Shah (Middlesex) - Has scored 1000+ runs for the last 2 seasons, averaged 41 2 years ago after a late slump but averaged nearer 50 this year...also did rather well on his debut against Australia when batting with Ben Hollioke in which they added 70 odd in 6-7 overs at the end of the innings.
And 5 years later he still can't get in the side.
Michael Powell (Glamorgan) - A very talented batsman who is starting to score consistantly again.
Disappeared, probably for good sadly.
Vikram Solanki (Worcestershire) - A very wristy, stylish batsman who bowls useful Offspin and who like Powell is scoring consistantly again. Has played ODIs before but the longer version of the game is more suited to his game.
Never quite achieved the consistency to push for a Test place.
Kabir Ali (Worcestershire) - A fast improving bowling all-rounder with noteable bowling and batting performances to his name, has won several games with his bowling.
Never quite had the chances some have enjoyed, but hasn't exactly bashed the door down either.
Jamie Troughton (Warwickshire) - Scored 1000+ runs in his 1st season and was allways agressive and willing to attack. Looks a fine prospect.
Still have a modicum of hope for him, but being pitchforked into the wrong form of the game did not help him at all.
Jimmy Anderson (Lancashire) - 50+ wickets in his 1st full season and has speed to burn.
Dear oh dear.
Andy Pratt (Durham) - A bit old to be called a "youngster" but one of the best wicket-keepers you'll ever see even if his batting isn't nearly as consistant"
By your standards, a horrible gaffe. Especially given the man who replaced him is currently being the next Matthew Prior.
Kyle Hogg (Lancashire) - Grandson of Sonny Ramadhin, he showed his class this year for both Lancashire and England U-19's although without specatular figures. Scored a Century for England U-19's against India in one of the OD games to show that he is more than just a bowler.
Might turn-out to be a decent one-day bowler at county level, but that's it.
Andrew Strauss (Middlesex) - Impressive as both batsman and captain of Middlesex and led them into Division 1 of the County Championship.
Interesting how he mostly seemed to come from, not exactly nowhere, but to exceed most expectations.
David Nash (Middlesex) - Steady wicket-keeper and averaged over 40 this season in FC cricket.
Worse wicketkeepers and batsmen have played ahead of him, several of them.
Ed Joyce (Middlesex) - The Irish Left-Hander was a rock for Middlesex this year and although he will take a few years to Qualify for England he is only 24 and is committed to playing for England.
Still very much an open door for him.
Rikki Clarke (Surrey) - More than surpassed himself in plugging the hole left by Ben Hollioke's tragic death although he looks much more of a batsman who bowls than an all-rounder.
Likewise.
Scott Newman (Surrey) - Impressive in his 3 games for Surrey this season averaging 61 whilst opening the innings and looking a very fine young player in a squad brimming with talent.
Likewise. Continues to put in the performances.
Rob White (Northamptonshire) - The young opener scored 277 on his FC debut and averaged 59 in 6 games to plug the hole left by Mike Hussey when he left to play for the Australia A team near the end of the season.
Not quite our Hussey, sadly, but I never though much of him myself.
Chris Schofield (Lancashire) - Averaged 32.5 with the bat and 18 with the ball, how many young players can claim that? Showing a lot of talent with the bat for a player originally picked because of his bowling and scored a 50 in only his 2nd test.
Gooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnneeeeeeeeeeeee.
Tim Ambrose and Matt Prior (Sussex) - Both impressed in their 1st full seasons and although Prior is the better keeper (reportedly one of the best in the country standing up to the seamers), Ambrose is the better bat and not far behind as a keeper.
That's a really good one! Ambrose >> Prior with bat, and beyond all question with gloves. And hopefully it might be second time lucky.
Jamie Dalrymple (Middlesex) - Has impressed with the bat more than the ball lately but is considered a very fine young Off-spinner and his accuracy in OD games, in which he has a strike rate of 34.5, has helped win several games. In a squad containing Phil Tufnell he has suffered from a lack of oppertunities.
Went OK for a time, but don't see him getting another go. Wasn't really given a fair crack either, sadly.
Mark Wallace (Glamorgan) - A very impressive young keeper who has also shown a lot of fight with the bat and played quite a few match-winning and match-saving innings. Has shown maturity past his years and has captained the ECB academy with Ian Bell as well as the England U-19 side in which he also shared the job with Bell.
Always got a bit more chat than he deserved, for mine. Amazingly, though, he's still only 26, the same age Geraint Jones was when he had his breakthrough year.
Well there you go! Sorta makes that Aussie headline "Is there anyone in England who can play cricket?" seem a bit optimistic.
They're a patronising bunch, those Aussies.
(Hey, that smiley didn't even exist at the time this thread up to now was posted in)
[Edited on 13/11/2002 by Rik][/QUOTE]
Edited, hey, sneaky.