"Time to deliver": Waugh calls on underperforming Aussie batters

The Australian Test team has been at the summit of the world cricket rankings over the last five years, however a lack of youth coming through the squad has raised some concerns for the future.

Australia is set to host Bangladesh for the first time since 2003, playing out two Test matches in Darwin which gets underway today, and Mackay from August 22 to 26, kicking off a demanding stretch of 21 Test matches over the next 12 months.

As is normally the case with the Aussies, there is a lot of experience in this Test squad. The 13-man group has an average age of 33 years, with Cameron Green, at 27, the only one under 30.

The lack of young talent has become a growing concern in recent times, particularly with experienced players approaching the end of their highly successful Test careers.

With that in mind, Australian great Steve Waugh touched on the future of Test cricket in Australia, speaking on the lack of promising talent on the edges of the national team setup.

He cites a lack of longer form cricket as one major factor as to why the kids aren't coming through.

“Well, there has to be good players out there,” Waugh told SENQ Breakfast.

“There’s talent out there, it’s just whether they get opportunities.

“They're not playing a lot of first-class cricket, the younger players; they're playing a lot of T20s. So I think the selectors are unsure who to pick because they haven’t really seen the guys play longer forms of the game.

“In that case you tend to stick with what you know.”

Green is the one who has lived with high expectations throughout his career to date. He has made 37 test appearances for Australia, however injuries have limited his availability and interrupted his development at the international level.

Despite this, Waugh still sees untapped potential in the 27-year-old all-rounder and feels a player with such immense talent should be given opportunities to perform.

But he wants to see him capitalise in the upcoming stretch, stating it's “time for him to deliver”.

“It’s rare you get a talent like this come through... a once-in-a-generation type player,” he said.

“He’s got the talent to capitalise and get big scores. I get the feeling that if he can get an early 100 in one of these Tests against Bangladesh, he could be in for a big 20 Tests ahead of him.

“He has the talent, but now is the time for him to deliver.”

The former Test skipper wants to see Jake Weatherald, who averages 22 in his five Tests so far, given time to find continuity and consistency as he embarks on his home Test in Darwin.

“Our batting has been a little bit fragile and unpredictable, it’s been unsettled at the top of the order,” he added.

“I’d like to see Weatherald given an extended run. I’m a big believer in selectors picking players and believing in them until they see someone better, not chopping and changing regularly."

Players like Sam Konstas and Nathan McSweeney have had small tastes of the big time recently, however, have struggled to secure regular opportunities in the Test lineup.

Waugh sees the talent in Konstas, 20, and McSweeney, 27, however he feels that they haven’t been given adequate opportunities to prove their worth.

“I think a couple young guys have done it tough,” he continued.

“It doesn’t do much for your confidence when you're a young player.

“I think you need to pick and stick at the top of the order and need some solidarity there, belief and faith. Then all of a sudden, you have a player that develops into a Test batsman.”

Australia is currently ranked first in the ICC world rankings following the Ashes triumph over England last summer. Cricket minnows Bangladesh are ranked ninth of the 10 Test nations.