Every Ashes cycle sparks the same question — how deep does Australia’s talent pool really run? The answer, is very deep.
Unlike last summer’s edition of the 25Under25, which was presented in indicative order but not strictly ranked, this year the players have been seeded from 1 through to 25.
The 25Under25 rankings consider a mix of potential, proven form and national representation. Think of their seeding like a stock market — it’s centred around who’s rising, who’s holding steady, and in some instances, who’s primed to explode next.
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Players who have performed consistently at state level are looked upon favourably. It is important to note that this is not a ranking that recognises one sole metric.
That being said, these are foxsports.com.au’s 25 best cricketers under the age of 25 within Australia’s professional ranks!
Note: The addition of formal seeding compared to last year’s edition mean some players have “dropped” in rank; however, that doesn’t necessarily reflect a drop in output.
1. Fergus O’Neill (24) – Victoria/Melbourne
2024 Indicative Ranking: 6th
If Australia’s next crop of cricketers had a pecking order, Fergus O’Neill would right now be the first cab off the rank — and with good reason, even if he’s yet to represent his country. The reigning Sheffield Shield Player of the Year has quietly built a first-class record that demands attention, taking 149 wickets in just over three seasons since debuting back in October 2022. He’s not the kind of quick who’ll blow you away with raw pace, but O’Neill doesn’t need to. His biggest weapon is a relentlessness seen in his repeatable action, a nagging seam position and the kind of metronomic accuracy that undoes even the best batters. The closest comparison that can be made between him and an international player is South Africa’s Vernon Philander, who carved out 224 Test wickets without ever seriously testing the speed gun. The 24-year-old is also far from a one-trick pony, having made three Shield half-centuries and a knack for frustrating opposition attacks with the bat. With a 2027 Ashes tour on the horizon, O’Neill looms as the type who could threaten in bowler-friendly conditions. And for what it’s worth, O’Neill averages 45.40 with the bat, and just 21.80 with the ball this Shield season… ridiculous.
2. Mitch Owen (23) – Tasmania/New Town
2024 Indicative Ranking: 23rd
Three ODIs, 13 T20Is
Few players in Australian cricket have skyrocketed quite like Mitch Owen over the past 12 months since our last 25Under25. This time last year, he was a promising all-rounder. Now, he’s a Big Bash champion, an international debutant, and one of the country’s most exciting young talents. Owen’s coming-of-age moment arrived in the BBL|14 final earlier this year. With Hobart chasing their maiden title, the Tasmanian right-hander unleashed a blistering 39-ball hundred against the Brisbane Heat — a knock that will live long in Hurricanes folklore. That performance kicked the door down to the international arena, where Owen wasted no time announcing himself. A 26-ball half-century on T20I debut earned him player-of-the-match honours against the West Indies, where we showcased the same stroke play that’s become his trademark. Red-ball honours for Australia might still be a little way off, with Cam Green and Beau Webster ahead of him in the all-rounder queue, but there’s no doubting Australia’s found a gem.
3. Todd Murphy (24) – Victoria/St Kilda
2024 Indicative Ranking: 1st
Seven Tests
Australia’s young gun off-spinner sneaks onto this list by the absolute barest of margins, turning 25 one day after this article’s publishing. Since bursting onto the scene in 2021, the Moama-born spinner has become one of the most reliable and composed young bowlers in the country. Since his whirlwind Test debut in India — where he took 7/124 — he’s already ticked off six more Tests across India, England and Sri Lanka; holding his own in conditions that have tested far more seasoned spinners. Murphy isn’t the greatest turner of the ball, but on the sub-continent, it sees him turn the ball the perfect amount to catch the edge and deceive batters. Back home, his white-ball credentials are quietly elite. Across four BBL seasons with the Sydney Sixers, Murphy’s economy rate sits at 6.42, an extraordinary return in a format built for hitting. Queensland’s left-arm orthodox Matt Kuhnemann is contending him heavily as Australia’s next-in-line behind Nathan Lyon, but Murphy continues to tick all the right boxes.
4. Cooper Connolly (22) – Western Australia/Scarborough
2024 Indicative Ranking: 3rd
One Test, eight ODIs, six T20Is
WA’s golden child has had a stunning last year, making his international red-ball debut in February against Sri Lanka in Galle to become Australia’s 471st Test player. While his match was largely uneventful, it made it abundantly clear as to how highly rated the left-hander is rated by selectors. Earlier this spring, Connolly produced a match-winning 61 not out off 53 balls against India in Adelaide to steer Australia home in a tense ODI alongside Matt Short. A shock five-wicket haul against South Africa this winter also makes him the youngest-ever Australian to take a five-wicket haul in Men’s ODIs, proving the Scarborough product really can do it all. Connolly is the only player under the age of 25 to represent Australia in all three formats.
5. Sam Konstas (20) – New South Wales/Sutherland
2024 Indicative Ranking: 4th
Five Tests
Australia’s favourite prodigy has had a rollercoaster last 12 months to say the least, all kick-started by a dazzling 90-ball hundred against India for the Prime Minister’s XI in December last year. It catapulted the then-19-year-old into the Test side after Nathan McSweeney’s failings as opener, and as we know, it saw him deliver one of the most famous international debuts in recent memory with his near-run-a-ball 60. Konstas’ low-percentage style left India — and the entire Australian nation — in awe, but has since left him exposed at the top level. For the rest of the India series and following West Indies tour, Konstas failed to pass 25 across nine innings. Back in the Sheffield Shield, the learning curve continues. Through four matches this season, Konstas has tallied 161 runs at 20.12, with one half-century to his name. They’re modest numbers, but context matters. He’s still only 20 years old, taking his first steps in the hardest job in Australian cricket — opening the batting.
6. Tanveer Sangha (23) – New South Wales/Campbelltown-Camden
2024 Indicative Ranking: 5th
Four ODIs, seven T20Is
An up-and-coming leg-spinner among domestic ranks, Sangha has quietly pieced together another strong year, adding two ODIs to his name, including a high-pressure appearance in the Champions Trophy semi-final against India. With Nathan Lyon back playing in the Sheffield Shield, Sangha’s red-ball chances have been limited this season, but he’s made every white-ball opportunity count. The 23-year-old has taken at least two wickets in seven of his last eight List A matches, highlighted by a brilliant four-wicket haul against India A last month. White-ball cricket is so far his dominant skill, but as Lyon edges toward the twilight of his career, Sangha’s pathway to the Test arena feels that little bit clearer. Across four seasons with the Sydney Thunder, Sangha has built one of the most consistent records among young spinners in the competition, and he looms as central to any Thunder resurgence in BBL|15.
7. Campbell Kellaway (23) – Victoria/Melbourne
2024 Indicative Ranking: 10th
There’s something refreshingly old-school about Campbell Kellaway. In an era of T20 cricket and ‘Bazball’, the Victorian left-hander has built his game on patience, temperament and the art of tough runs — and it’s really starting to pay dividends.
Now with 11 half centuries and three hundreds next to his name at red-ball level, the early signs are there to suggest he could be Usman Khawaja’s long-term replacement, all things going well. His most recent Sheffield Shield innings might have been the most telling yet; a gritty 51 against New South Wales and the hostile attack of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott. A sharp fielder and a part-time bowler with a handy knack for breakthroughs, the Melbourne CC product continues to add layers to his game. This Shield season, he’s quietly averaging just under 40 with 317 runs, reinforcing his reputation as one of Australia’s most dependable young batters.
8. Jake Fraser-McGurk (23) – South Australia/West Torrens
2024 Indicative Ranking:2nd
Seven ODIs, eight T20Is
Few players in Australian cricket generate buzz quite like Jake Fraser-McGurk. While the past year has thrown up its share of speed bumps, the excitement around him remains as electric as ever. The Victorian-born wunderkind has played just the three international matches at white-ball level for Australia this year, either side of a frustrating IPL campaign that saw him leave India short on confidence. A pair of starts in South Australia’s one-day side this spring (34 and 27) hinted that rhythm was returning, before blasting 129 for West Torrens in a two-day clash against Sturt only last weekend. He hasn’t featured in red-ball cricket at domestic level for nearly a year as he continues to hone his craft in the shorter formats, but the ceiling remains sky-high. On potential alone, Fraser-McGurk could be back in South Australia’s Shield side — and Australia’s white-ball plans — in no time. The 23-year-old has been selected alongside Cam McClure to play a four-day match against the England Lions at Lilac Hill later next week, alongside several other honourable mentions on this list.
9. Mahli Beardman (20) – Western Australia/Melville
2024 Indicative Ranking: Honourable mention
Few young fast bowlers in Australia have made as rapid an ascent as Mahli Beardman. The 20-year-old right-armer was thrust onto Australia’s ODI tour of England and Scotland last September with just one List A match under his belt, a move that underlined how highly international selectors rate him. Across half a dozen domestic appearances in the 50-over and T20 formats, he’s impressed with a List A four-wicket haul and a 3/17 in only his second Big Bash outing. His raw pace — already touching 148km/h — earned him yet another international call-up, this time for the recent five-match T20 series against India. While Beardman ultimately didn’t make his debut, his addition to multiple series’ is a clear indicator that he’ll be a key player in future years. Speaking with Fox Cricket’s Nic Savage earlier this month, Beardman revealed he’s still chasing the elusive 150km/h speed. “There are technical things that I’ll be working on to try and increase my pace a little bit,” the Melville product told foxsports.com.au.
10. Oliver Peake (19) – Victoria/Geelong
2024 Indicative Ranking: Honourable mention
A future Australian cricketing superstar. Just a year ago, the teenage Geelong product had yet to make his professional debut. Fast forward 12 months, and he’s already represented Victoria and the Melbourne Renegades across all three formats — a meteoric rise for one of Australia’s most exciting prospects. In 14 first-class innings so far, Peake has already notched three half-centuries, including a standout 92 for Australia A against Sri Lanka A in Darwin earlier this year. A former Australian Under-19 captain, he brings leadership and maturity beyond his years, alongside the versatility of part-time off-spin. At just 19, Peake has a mountain of time to develop his game and build the consistency needed for the international stage. But if potential counts for anything, few under-25 cricketers in Australia match his ceiling — so watch this space!
11. Will Salzmann (21) – New South Wales/Sydney University
2024 Indicative Ranking: 20th
The future looks bright for Will Salzmann, even if the present has thrown up a few setbacks. The young all-rounder’s spring in the Sheffield Shield got off to a flyer, scoring 30+ in five of six innings, including two half-centuries. His form earned him a promotion to opener in his two most recent innings, where he partnered Sam Konstas to scores of 65 and 31* — proving he can handle the new-ball pressures in red-ball cricket. It’s a role not entirely unfamiliar to him, having opened for premier side Sydney University before; albeit primarily in white-ball cricket. Unfortunately though, the 21-year-old tore his hamstring just four overs into NSW’s most recent Shield match; a setback that now threatens his availability for the start of BBL|15 with the Sydney Thunder. Salzmann also bowls more than handy seamers, having taken 16 wickets from just seven List A matches for the Blues.
12. Liam Haskett (24) – Western Australia/Claremont-Nedlands
2024 Indicative Ranking: 16th
A back issue wrecked much of Liam Haskett’s 2024/25 campaign, but the left-arm quick has bounced back impressively after remodelling his action over the winter, and looks primed to pick up where he left off. The Claremont-Nedlands product knows how to bowl a menacing ball back of a length, as well as swing the ball late into the stumps of right-handers. Red-ball cricket is seen as his more dominant skill set, however he was called up as a replacement player for the Adelaide Strikers in last summer’s BBL, snaring two wickets on debut. With Lance Morris sidelined for the season and Jhye Richardson still regaining full fitness, there’s every chance 2026 shapes as Haskett’s breakout year.
13. Lachlan Hearne (24) – Queensland/Toombul
2024 Indicative Ranking: Honourable mention
The former New South Wales player has clearly elevated his game over the off-season, opening his Queensland red-ball campaign with a maiden first-class century. Either side of his 106, he produced two 40s and a fifty in List A cricket, before following up with another commanding 87 at the WACA against Western Australia earlier this week. The Queensland Bulls are clearly taking notice, with Hearne looking increasingly like a staple in their side across both formats. The stylish left-hander also had an outrageous T20 Max campaign this pre-season, smoking two hundreds for Toombul, each at a strike rate of over 225. Consistency and game-time will be his goals over the next few years, but given his trajectory, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Hearne representing Australia in any of the three formats at some stage across the coming years.
14. Liam Scott (24) – South Australia/Glenelg
2024 Indicative Ranking: 17th
After moving to South Australia half a dozen years ago, Liam Scott has flown under the radar for the SACA for some time now. That’s not to say he hasn’t been a valuable contributor though. His seam bowling becoming an integral part of SA’s pace attack proven repeatedly against India A and Sri Lanka A earlier this year, and reflected in a career List A economy of just 4.34 across 17 matches. With the bat, Scott has matured into a reliable middle-order presence. After being shuffled around the top and middle order in his earlier seasons, he’s now settling into a role at six or seven, offering solid depth to Ryan Harris’ team. For a young player who already boasts two professional hundreds, he has become quite the handyman for the reigning Sheffield Shield champions.
15. Harry Dixon (20) – Victoria/St Kilda
2024 Indicative Ranking: 25th
Twelve months ago, Harry Dixon was the only player on last year’s 25Under25 list without first-class experience. Fast forward to this rendition, and the St Kilda product has already made his mark across formats, racking up seven first-class matches, nine domestic one-dayers, and three Big Bash games for the Melbourne Renegades. This spring has seen Dixon shift back to a more familiar opening role, after initially spending time in Victoria’s middle order before Ollie Peake’s professional debut. His transition back up top was made smoother by a hard-hitting ton against NSW in a September practice match. With BBL|15 on the horizon, Dixon looks set for even more senior opportunities alongside Peake, where they stand out as of Victoria’s brightest talents under 21.
16. Jayden Goodwin (23) – Western Australia/Subiaco-Floreat
2024 Indicative Ranking: 13th
One of only three players on this 25Under25 list to boast multiple first-class hundreds, Jayden Goodwin is carving out a name for himself as a rising star in Australian cricket. Making his four-day debut at just 19, the left-hander has steadily built a reputation as a reliable middle-order bat for Western Australia after beginning his career opening the innings. Across 22 first-class matches, Goodwin averages just over 30, laying a solid foundation to take his game to the next level. His technique, temperament, and ability to anchor an innings have WACA selectors projecting him as a long-term prospect, with Australia A honours well within reach if his progression continues. Jayden is the son of former Zimbabwe cricketer Murray Goodwin, who made three centuries across his 19 Tests at the top level.
17. Callum Vidler (20) Queensland/Valley
2024 Indicative Ranking: Honourable mention
The most highly touted of Queensland three (!) young quicks at the back end of this list, and with good reason. Vidler was the leading wicket taker for Australia’s Under 19s Ashes in 2023, as well as 12 months later in the Under 19 Cricket World Cup in South Africa. His continued success quickly saw him given a professional debut for the Bulls, with the right-arm quick taking 12 wickets at 28.25 from his three first-class matches. His ultra-raw pace has been seen nudging the coveted 150km/h mark, which puts him in a similar boat to WA’s young speedster Mahli Beardman. Frustratingly though, the livewire has been struck down with a partial fracture in his L3 vertebrae, an injury that ruled him out of Australia A’s 50-over tour of India a month or so ago. Vidler took 4/64 in last season’s Sheffield Shield final against South Australia, and is contracted at the Brisbane Heat for at least two more seasons.
18. Lachlan Shaw (22) – New South Wales/Northern District
2024 Indicative Ranking: 24th
After bursting onto the first-class scene last summer, Lachie Shaw hasn’t added to his first-class games tally just yet — but that won’t stay the case for long. Dynamic at the crease with sharp footwork and clean hands, the 22-year-old has already chalked up 11 List A appearances in the past year between New South Wales and Australia A duties. His run-a-ball 60 against Queensland in his only domestic outing this season caught the eye, following a promising away tour of India A in Kanpur that produced scores of 45 and 32. Having signed a two-year deal with the Sydney Sixers in September, Shaw looks every bit a three-format player in the making.
19. Jack Nisbet (22) – New South Wales/Mosman
2024 Indicative Ranking: 15th
The 22-year-old is the most promising fast bowler coming through New South Wales’ domestic ranks. Nisbet claimed the red-hot figures of 5/53 on Shield debut, and inside the sam week, made his List A debut for the Blues. However, since his promising showings for Australia A against Sri Lanka A this winter in Darwin, the right-armer has been battling issues with stress fractures, and has subsequently made fewer appearances in grade cricket so far this season. His 34 wickets across 15 professional appearances in red and white-ball cricket are a big tick, with no question over his ability to go one step further once he overcomes his back troubles.
20. Tom Whitney (23) – Queensland/Western Suburbs
2024 Indicative Ranking: 22nd
Another of Queensland’s fiery young quicks, Tom Whitney has barely missed a beat since bursting onto the domestic scene. The right-armer made an instant statement last summer, becoming the first Queenslander in almost 40 years to take a five-wicket haul on debut with his 5/57 against South Australia. With Michael Neser and Xavier Bartlett leading the state’s pace brigade, spots aren’t easy to come by, but every bit of exposure Whitney gets over the next couple of years is gold — unless, of course, he forces his way into that fast-bowling cartel full-time. Don’t be surprised to see the Western Suburbs product make a sudden surge up this list in 12 months time.
21. Cam McClure (24) – Victoria/Prahran
2024 Indicative Ranking: 21st
The tall Victorian quick has made a handy start to this spring at domestic level, taking four wickets from his first three List A games — including a tidy three-for against Tasmania in September. While the Prahran product hasn’t featured in first-class cricket for just over a year, the Vics still view him as a long-term prospect in a similar mould to Sam Elliott. Opportunities have been harder to come by lately with Fergus O’Neill’s rapid rise and Scott Boland still doing his thing, but with Boland nearing the twilight of his career, McClure’s time to shine might not be far away. Between the four-day and 50-over formats, he’s already picked up 28 wickets. In a great chance for further exposure, he has been selected alongside Jake Fraser-McGurk and several other honourable mentions on this list to play a four-day match against the England Lions at Lilac Hill later next week.
22. Thomas Kelly (24) – South Australia/Sturt
2024 Indicative Ranking: 14th
SACA’s ‘Urban Cowboy’ knows how to clear a fence, especially when it’s short and on a length. His clean ball-striking and continued big scores at grade level saw him nail down a finishing role in the Adelaide Strikers’ middle order for a number of seasons, before a thumb injury cruelly wiped out his BBL|14 campaign. The setback also saw the Sturt product overtaken by the likes of Jason Sangha in South Australia’s top six. Still, Kelly’s been dominating SA Premier Cricket for close to half a decade now, and has one white-ball century already under his belt this season. The shorter formats are where he shines right now, but his technique and fearless stroke play gives insiders every hope he’ll soon break back into the states’ four-day side. Kelly is contracted until the end of this season for South Australia, and is contracted to the Strikers for two more years.
23. Hugh Weibgen (21) Queensland/Valley
2024 Indicative Ranking: Honourable mention
An Under-19 World Cup-winning captain, Hugh Weibgen has all the hallmarks of a future star. An Under-19 World Cup-winning captain, Hugh Weibgen has all the hallmarks of a future star. At the crease, the right-hander is as classical as they come — balanced, composed and technically sharp, with a leg-side game that’s already a standout feature. It was on full display during his maiden professional ton, a blistering 115* at better than a run-a-ball in just his second List A match. The Valley product looks a future three-format player for Australia down the track, and can also provide useful part-time off-spin. Similar to his Queensland teammate Tom Whitney, among others, don’t be surprised to see his name far higher in next year’s edition of 25Under25. The Valley product shapes as a genuine three-format player for Australia in the years to come, and offers handy part-time off-spin at grade level. Like his Queensland teammate Tom Whitney, don’t be shocked if Weibgen climbs much higher in next year’s 25Under25.
24. Hanno Jacobs (24) – South Australia/Sturt
2024 Indicative Ranking: N/A
The bowling all-rounder announced himself as the reigning premiers’ headline signing this off-season, returning home on a three-year deal after a stints across Canberra and New South Wales. The 24-year-old caught eyes last summer in the Prime Minister’s XI clash against India, belting a run-a-ball 61 that helped put him on the map after consistent premier cricket form for Western Suburbs. Jacobs made his first-class debut late in the season for the Blues, taking six wickets in two matches before SACA swooped on the Sturt product. This spring, he’s featured once in each format — peeling off an impressive 41 and taking 3/91 against Victoria at Adelaide Oval in their four-day clash. His economy rate might sit on the higher side, but his strike rate is elite — making him a genuine X-factor in Ryan Harris’ attack.
25. Tom Straker (20) – Queensland/Valley
2024 Indicative Ranking: Honourable mention
Yet another Queensland quick rounds out the list, and at just 20 years of age, Straker already has 14 professional matches under his belt — seven each in the four-day and 50-over format. The right-arm quick took the match-winning wicket in Australia’s Under 19 World Cup victory back in 2024, with a plethora of players on this list playing alongside him. Figures of 4/87 in just his third first-class match impressed many, as did his ability to bat in the Bulls’ lower-order. A lot to like!
Honourable mentions:
Joel Davies (22, NSW)
2024 Indicative Ranking: 19th
A member of last year’s 25, Davies has since played three BBL matches in the past 12 months for the Sydney Sixers. A player still extremely highly touted, but is currently waiting in NSW’s domestic wings. Made a run-a-ball ton for Manly Warringah at the start of last month, hitting four sixes. Also bowls handy off-spin, and is extremely unlucky to miss the cut this year.
Albert Esterhuysen (19, WA)
2024 Indicative Ranking: New
Not a name many will be familiar with just yet, but this kid can seriously bowl. A right-arm seamer out of Fremantle, Esterhuysen made his professional debut against South Australia in September, taking 3/42 in a one-dayer at the WACA. Is yet to make his first-class debut, though was in Western Australia’s 13-man squad against Tasmania only last month. Big, big fan.
Teague Wyllie (21, WA)
2024 Indicative Ranking: Honourable mention
After an incredible rise to domestic cricket in 2022, Wylie’s appearance for WA have been more stagnant in the last 18 months. The prodigy is as talented with the bat as almost any other on his list, but is currently the victim of an ultra-strong state side that has batters keeping him out of the starting XI. Yielded a classy run-a-ball 56 on List A debut last month.
Others to keep an eye on: Nivethan Radhakrishnan (22, TAS), Jack Sinfield (22, QLD), Ryan Hicks (20, NSW), Charlie Anderson (20, NSW), Aidan O’Connor (19, TAS), Raf Macmillan (20, TAS), Ashley Chandrasinghe (23, VIC), Austin Anlezark (20, VIC), Callum Stow (23, VIC), Harjas Singh (20, NSW)
Graduates from last year’s list (all now aged 25): Jordan Buckingham (SA), Mitch Perry (VIC), Brody Couch (WA), Ollie Davies (NSW), Jack Edwards (NSW), Sam Elliott (VIC), Mackenzie Harvey (SA)
