Thursday 18 January 2018 07:57, UK
Alec Stewart has picked his top five young English batsmen to watch in 2018 - but they will need to be tested in county cricket by a host fine young bowlers.
We asked England selector and current director of cricket at Middlesex, Angus Fraser, to select five of the best - watch him explain his choices in the video above and read about them below…
JOFRA ARCHER - Sussex
The Barbados-born quick is poised to qualify for England in 2022 but the selectors must wish they could pick him now - he has bagged 89 wickets in 20 first-class games to date, while he has taken 11 in seven matches for Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash.
"As a selector, we get all the footage sent to us and the thing about him is how easily he seems to be able to bowl quickly," said former England seamer Fraser.
"You look and it seems quite hostile and on a televised game the speed gun says high 80s. He's tall, a natural athlete and it is how easily he seems to be able to bowl the ball quickly [that strikes me].
"The potential with someone like him is huge and I am sure the ECB are trying to what they can do to reduce his qualifying period to before 2022."
JAMIE OVERTON - Somerset
Craig Overton acquitted himself well in the Ashes - but Fraser says his brother Jamie, quick but blighted by injury over recent times, is one to watch…
"He would have moved far higher through England's system had he not had injuries. He's a big, strong, aggressive fast bowler, who can bowl quickly, and swing the ball away.
"He is someone who can hopefully stay injury-free and push his case moving forward."
DOMINIC BESS - Somerset
Fraser sticks with Somerset for his third pick, plumping for the county's off-spinner, who bowls in tandem with slow left-armer Jack Leach at Taunton...
"He is playing on favourable pitches but he is bowling well and taking wickets. You look at the way he bowls and lets go of the ball.
"Plus, he can bat a bit and is a good fielder and there is a lot of energy about him."
GEORGE GARTON - Sussex
England came unstuck against Mitchell Starc's left-arm pace during the Ashes - so can Garton end up performing a similar role for them?
"He's been mainly used by Sussex in white-ball cricket but he has a bit of pace. You're looking at an action where you wonder if it is repeatable and if there are different things he can do.
"He can be quite hostile and aggressive but he has also got a good slower ball and gets some good yorkers in too."
TOM HELM - Middlesex
Fraser's final pick is a man he knows well, Middlesex pacer Helm…
"Even though 2017 was a disappointing year for Middlesex [getting relegated from the County Championship], it was a good year for Tom.
"He played quite a bit of first-team cricket and played exceptionally well in T20 where he coped with situations extremely well.
"He's tall, very skilful, gets good bounce and carry. He has the potential to bowl high 80s as he gets stronger and more confident.
"The raw materials are there for him."
