Six young guns to watch in the Marsh One-Day Cup

Jack Edwards (NSW)

Edwards has long been touted as a future Australia player and the 19-year-old gave a glimpse of his unquestionable talent in his maiden campaign for NSW in 2018, hammering a superb 116 from 112 balls against Queensland. In doing so, he became the youngest player to score a century in Australian one-day domestic cricket. He finished the tournament with 273 runs at 54.6 from five innings, with only eight batters more prolific in the 50-over tournament. Expect to also see more of Edwards at the bowling crease in coming weeks after a standout pre-season.

Max Bryant (QLD)

Anyone who watched the KFC Big Bash League last summer knows all about the capabilities of the hard-hitting right-hander. The 20-year-old Bryant has had little trouble transferring his aggressive approach to the 50-over format, boasting the best strike rate (144.51) of the top 24 run-scorers in last year’s one-day tournament and finishing with 237 runs at 33.85 from seven innings. Bryant smashed the fastest-ever List A fifty by a Queenslander against South Australia last September, making a spectacular 71 from 31 balls, with his half-century coming from just 23 deliveries.

Lloyd Pope (SA)

The flame-haired leg-spinner is yet to play a 50-over match for his state, but he could play a role this season. The 19-year-old collected a haul of 7-87 in just his second Sheffield Shield appearance last October and made headlines when he destroyed England in the Under-19 World Cup at the start of last year, grabbing the best figures ever in the tournament as Australia powered to a quarter-final victory. In scenes reminiscent of Shane Warne's match-turning spell in the 1999 World Cup semi-final against South Africa, Pope passionately urged his teammates on as he bamboozled England to finish with remarkable figures of 8-35.

Riley Meredith (TAS)

The rapid right-armer from Tasmania earned high praise last summer, mainly for his exploits with the Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL. Test greats Shane Warne, Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson all heaped praise on the speedster, with Warne calling for Australia’s selectors to pick Meredith in the one-day side. While Tasmania coach Adam Griffith later dismissed that suggestion, declaring Meredith was not yet ready for the elite level, there is little doubting the 23-year-old is a prodigious talent. Only six bowlers took more wickets than Meredith – who finished with nine victims at 34.77 apiece – in last year’s one-day domestic competition. Watch out, batters.

Will Sutherland (VIC)

The highly touted allrounder dismantled Queensland’s batting line-up in Townsville last September, grabbing his maiden five-wicket haul in the one-day domestic ranks and finishing the tournament with eight wickets at 17.12 apiece (to go with a neat economy rate of 4.89) from three matches. Sutherland’s tournament was brought to a premature end when he was sidelined because of stress fractures in his back, which forced him out for two months. As a 17-year-old in October 2017, Sutherland collected 4-11 against NSW, including the scalp of former Test opener Ed Cowan. If he stays fit, he could make a big impact for the Vics.

Josh Philippe (WA)

The 22-year-old wicketkeeper played as a batter only for Western Australia in the 50-over competition last season and impressed in his maiden campaign. Philippe punched out 236 runs from six games at the top of the order and averaged 39.33. His strike rate of 120.40 was the third best of the top 20 run-scorers, underlining his talent and ability to find the gaps, and he hit three half-centuries. Philippe’s best knock came against Victoria where he hit 65 from 62 balls and he played a key role in WA’s progression to the semi-finals. There’s plenty of competition for spots in the Warriors’ line-up, but expect Philippe to play a key role if given the chance.