The bench strength created by Eoin Morgan in the white ball format during his reign is fearsome. As the cricket schedule is jam-packed, many new players will get various opportunities. With the World Cup just around the corner and with the absence of Ben Stokes and Eoin Morgan, England might try different options in the middle order. Also, as many fast bowlers are getting injured, young bowlers might get an opportunity to showcase their talent on the biggest stage and further strengthen the ever-increasing bench strength.
Below are the top 10 England Cricketers who might be future stars representing their country in the upcoming decade:
1. Ollie Pope (24 Years)
Ollie Pope is a treat to watch when on-song and in full rhythm. His elegance and high elbow cover drives are often compared with Ian Bell. He embodies every quality of a current generation batsman. He can maneuver the ball into the gaps for quick singles as well as play scoops and sweeps whenever needed. He has also added a new sweep in his armory. He is very nimble on his feet and an excellent player of spin. He is the first-choice wicketkeeper for his county side Surrey which is an added advantage. If he becomes a little watchful at the start of the innings and improves his shot selection, he can be a thorn in the flesh for the opposition in the years to follow.
2. Phil Salt (25 Years)
Phil Salt is a typical modern-day English batsman who can smash the ball all round the park. He has got the ability to score runs at a brisk pace and take the game away from the opposition in no time. He has gained experience by playing different T20 leagues all-round the globe, as well as the T-10. With the retirement of Stokes, he was given the chance to bat at no 3 against South Africa. He looks to be in the scheme of things in the ODI world cup next year. He already has an average of 52 in the 7 innings he played with a strike rate over 130. If he remains consistent, you would definitely seem him play in the white ball format regularly.
3. Zak Crawley (24 Years)
Zak Crawley is one of the highly regarded batsmen in the English circuit. With the natural gift of timing and the ability to score runs all over the ground, he can win you matches single-handedly. Even after his slump of form after 267 against Pakistan in 2020, with the backing of McCullum and age on his side, he can do wonders for England in upcoming years. Due to his ability to score runs quickly, he can be an all-format player and can be a contender for the top 3 spots very soon.
4. Tom Banton (23 Years)
The exciting Wicketkeeper batsman caught everyone’s eye at the U-19 World Cup in 2018. He has got all the ingredients of a modern-day white ball batsman. The fearless batsman from Somerset can tear apart bowling attacks when in full flow. He played for Brisbane Heat in 2019 and Kolkata Knight Riders in 2020. After his debut in 2019, he faded away a little, but returned in 2022 against West Indies and showed some glimpse of what he is capable of doing. His ability to improvise and play lap shots and scoops makes it difficult for bowlers to stop the flow of runs. He has got age on his side, and his best is yet to come.
5. Sam Curran (24 Years)
Sam Curran caught everyone’s eye in tests during the home series against India in 2018. His uniqueness lies in his ability to swing the ball and a left arm's angle causes more trouble for the batsman. He looks like a proper batsman and has a sound technique with the bat. Having played IPL, he has gotten better with his white ball bowling. He has got slower balls and a pinpoint Yorker to outfox the batsman. He has an IPL hat trick under his name. He has also improved his ability to clear the ropes on regular basis. He has got all the temperament to become the next big all-rounder in English Cricket. If he remains injury free, he can dominate English cricket in the years to come.
6. Dom Bess (25 Years)
Dom Bess is a wily off-spinner who can deceive the batsman in the air as well as off the wicket. He also gets sharp turn and bounce. He received his England Cap first time in 2018. In his debut series, he was very handy with the bat and scored some crucial runs for his side. He played in the subcontinent against India and Sri Lanka last year. He had a decent start to his international career but got drifted away due to some inconsistent performances. England is in dire need of a consistent spinner. If keeps landing the ball in the right spot time and again, he will play a pivotal role in England’s success in Tests.
7. Matt Parkinson (25 Years)
Matt Parkinson is one of the prospects in the spin bowling department for the England Cricket Team. He has grown from strength to strength each year since making his county debut in 2016. He is a classic old-school leg spinner. He turns the ball a big way and can land the ball consistently in the same area which is very unlike for a wrist spinner. He keeps it simple and outclasses the batsman with his flight and guile. As Adil Rashid is at the fag end of his career and lack of a quality spinner in the English circuit, Matt Parkinson can be the solution to England’s spin bowling problem in all departments.
8. Saqib Mahmood (25 Years)
Saqib Mahmood is an intelligent and very thinking fast bowler. He was exceptional in the debut series against Pakistan. He hits the deck hard and gets lateral movement of the pitch. If conditions suit him, he also can swing the ball. He can generate extra bounce due to his height. He is also brilliant with the old ball getting the ball to reverse. He has got some variations up his sleeves and got the ability to bowl very well at the death in white ball cricket. If he remains injury-free, he could be the all-format, all-conditions bowler that England is direly looking for.
9. Mathew Potts (23 Years)
The 23-Year-old fast bowler from Durham is known for his accuracy and ability to generate extra bounce. He can consistently bowl between 80 to 90 mph. He can swing the ball both ways and beat both edges regularly. He is handy with the bat. He can score some crucial runs in the lower order and bail the team out of trouble. He had an exceptional season in 2022, picking 35 wickets in just 6 matches. Hence, he was handed the English Cap this summer against New Zealand. Already in his short career, he has dismissed the likes of Kane Williamson and Virat Kohli. The young man's future appears to be promising.
10. Harry Brook (23 Years)
Harry Brook is an exciting young all-rounder who caught everyone’s attention due to his impressive T20 blast season in 2020. He was the captain of the U-19 World Cup squad in 2018. He is an attacking batsman who bats in the middle order and can also finish games. He bowls medium pace and could crank it up to high 130s when in full rhythm. In domestic cricket, he has a strike rate around 150 and a bowling average of 26. He recently made his debut against West Indies in 2022. With the retirement of Ben Stokes from ODIs, he can fill the void and be the game changer for England.
