No cricketer beats Father Time. As 2027 draws near, Australia’s modern legends are entering their final chapters. Usman Khawaja is 39 and working hard to stay at the top.
At the same time, Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc are getting closer to retirement. This ‘Golden Generation’ won a World Test Championship and a World Cup. Even so, their exit will leave huge gaps in the team.
Selectors can’t just look at the past. They need players who can actually deliver runs and wickets right now. Luckily, the Sheffield Shield and youth systems have produced plenty of new talent. These five players have the stats to prove they belong in the side.
The Future Stars of the Sheffield Shield
1. Sam Konstas (New South Wales)
Konstas is impossible to ignore. The 20-year-old made history in October 2024. He was the youngest player since Ricky Ponting to hit two centuries in one Sheffield Shield game.
Those scores of 152 and 105 against South Australia showed he has the right mindset for Test cricket. He kept that form going through the 2024–25 season. He piled up 536 runs with a huge average of 76.67. Konstas has the reliable technique to stay at the top of the order for the next ten years.
2. Fergus O’Neill (Victoria)
Batters usually get the credit, but O’Neill is the one breaking teams apart. The 24-year-old bowler is incredibly accurate. His style looks a lot like Josh Hazlewood’s. You can’t argue with his numbers.
He has taken 149 first-class wickets at a very low average of 21.80 over three years. He won the Sheffield Shield Player of the Year award by giving batters absolutely nothing to hit. O’Neill is ready to take over the lead role once the current veterans start to move on.
3. Ollie Peake (Victoria)
Peake plays like someone much older than a teenager. Cricket Australia chose him to lead the 2026 U19 World Cup defence. From there, the left-hander moved into senior cricket without any trouble.
He made a gritty 92 for Australia A against a tough Sri Lanka A side in July 2025. That knock showed he can handle high-quality bowling. The 19-year-old knows how to work the gaps and build a long innings. He looks like the perfect fit for the middle order.
4. Harry Dixon (Victoria)
Australia need a fast-scoring opener to bring back the aggression David Warner used to provide. Dixon is that player. The left-hander started strong with a smooth 66 on his First-Class debut in February 2025.
The 20-year-old also showed what he can do in short-form cricket during his first One-Day Cup game. He hammered 57 runs off only 37 balls. Dixon takes on the new ball without any fear. He forces bowlers to rethink their plans immediately.
5. Mahli Beardman (Western Australia)
Every Australian team needs someone who can bowl fast. Beardman has that pace. He regularly bowls over 140km/h. The 20-year-old was the Player of the Match in the U19 World Cup Final after a brilliant 3–15 spell.
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His List A stats show he lives up to the reputation. He took 12 wickets in his first five games at an average of 17.75. Dennis Lillee is coaching Beardman personally. The kid has that special spark needed to clean up the tail and break big stands.
