While Australian selectors are struggling to inject youth into the team due to paucity of talent among batting and spin bowling prospects, in India, there's ample talent among young batsmen, but there isn't the same will with selectors to gradually phase out ageing stars In Australia, a debate is raging over selection following Simon Katich's controversial omission from the list of 25 contracted players. This argument highlights one area of major difference between two successful cricket nations, Australia and India. In two cricket-mad countries it's a case of a shared passion but not a common problem. <img alt="" src="/imagedata/2011/jun/kat12.jpg" border="5" /> While Australian selectors recently omitted 35-year-old Simon Katich from the list of 25 contracted players, they would be delighted to have a choice between a talented group of young batsmen like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Murali Vijay &amp; Cheteshwar Pujara to choose from As Australia currently goes through a rebuilding phase there's a need to inject youth into the Test side. However, the difficulty for the selectors is the paucity of talent among the youthful batting and spin bowling prospects. The will has always been strong among Australian selection panels to move aside fading stars for young players with potential. However, apart from a few talented openers, there's precious little young batting talent hammering on the selectors' door. In India the problem is of an entirely different hue; there's ample talent among the young batsmen but there isn't the same will among the selectors to gradually phase out aging stars. The Australian selection panel would be delighted to have a choice between a talented group of young batsmen like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara. However, the Indian selectors are loath to move aside aging stars to feed some of those younger players into the team. The odd opportunity those players have received in the Test side has come about through injury to an incumbent. By being reluctant to blend youth with experience in the Test batting line-up over the last couple of years the Indian selectors are risking two unsavoury outcomes. One, they will have to replace the three big names, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman at approximately the same time. Two, they might find when it comes time to rely on the new breed at Test level, they're not up to the task. Often good young players,u00a0 who are left on the sidelines too long develop bad habits. They don't find it sufficiently challenging to continually play at a lower level and consequently there's a tendency to become sloppy. Graeme Hick, a prodigious young talent was forced to wait for Test selection while he qualified for England. By the time he arrived at International level he was a flawed player through having constantly hammered lesser opposition. This problem is exacerbated in India by the huge earnings young players can derive from playing IPL. Nothing diminishes the desire and hunger in youth quicker than hurriedly acquired wealth. In such circumstances a young player can find it difficult to focus on maintaining a high standard. Rohit Sharma is a player in danger of falling into this category. When I first saw him playing ODIs in Australia in 2008, I felt he was the best of the young Indian batsmen. It's hard to fathom that at age 24 he still hasn't played a Test match. His talent is in danger of being under utilised. India has achieved plenty of recent success at Test level. But the selection policy has smacked of "let's make the most of today's talent and if the future turns sour that'll be a problem for the next panel to clean up." By allowing young players to grow in confidence with guidance from a strong supporting cast, selectors can cater for the present and prepare for the future. A strong selection panel can achieve this aim but only if the young talent exists. While Australia may lust over some of India's young batting talent the reverse is the case in fast bowling. Australia currently has a really good group of young fast bowlers ufffd albeit some who are injury prone ufffd while India is desperately searching for someone to groom for the important role of Zaheer Khan's successor. In Josh Hazelwood, James Pattinson, Patrick Cummins and Mitchell Starc, Australia has a talented and varied set of quickies. That's the one shining light for the beleaguered selection panel; a good side can be built quickly around a strong attack. These are two proud cricket nations, who are used to success. Australia's is a lifelong craving while India's has become an acquired taste. It'll be interesting to see which system prevails in the future in what is a fast-changing cricket world.

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While Australian selectors are struggling to inject youth into the team due to paucity of talent among batting and spin bowling prospects, in India, there's ample talent among young batsmen, but there isn't the same will with selectors to gradually phase out ageing stars

Contrasting selection issues for India, Australia

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