Indian Test captain Shubman Gill was not even included as a former Australian great picked the best among young cricketers who could dominate Test cricket in the forthcoming years. However, the batter named Gill’s Indian teammate as the next big thing in Test cricket.
Test cricket has once again been hyped in the recent decade with the introduction of the ICC World Test Championship by the International Cricket Council. In the era when Test cricket is evolving from its orthodox roots, several new-age cricketers have shown prominence in adapting to the new norms of red-ball cricket.
A few of the most versatile modern-day batters who have gelled into Test cricket in their own fashion include Indian batters Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, and Yashasvi Jaiswal; Englishmen Ben Duckett and Harry Brook; New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra; and Australia’s Travis Head.
Mark Waugh discredits Shubman Gill, picks Indian teammate as next big thing in Test cricket
Test cricket is no longer a Test of composure and temperament. The modern-day Test cricket is not aimed at playing the 5 days, showing respect to all good balls, but is rather focused on wins with calculated risks.
Speaking on Kayo Sports during the Ashes broadcast, the presenter asked Mark Waugh, the former Australian batter, for his opinion on the next Best Test cricketer among the current stars.
Waugh replied instantaneously, “I reckon there’s three in the running: Jaiswal, Brook and Ravindra from New Zealand. I will go with Jasiwal, 24 years of age, who has already got a double hundred, averages just under 50; there is something special about this kid.”
“So I have kept him down, Jaiswal, as the next champion batsman in elite cricket. So that’s my pick, the young India,” concluded Waugh.
Mark Waugh picks Yashasvi Jaiswal as the next best Test batter. pic.twitter.com/2Aps0jSCLX
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 7, 2026
Michael Vaughan holds on to England roots as he picks his next best Test batter
England great Michael Vaughan has, however, not stepped away from his English roots like Mark Waugh. In his opinion, he considered Shubman Gill as a prospect for a brighter career in red-ball cricket but sided with Harry Brook to be the next big thing in the format.
“I will put Shubman Gill in that, but Harry Brook is the next we’re going to be talking about. We are already talking about it, be it the way he has played in this trip (Ashes 2025-26) or the number of runs he has scored. I would expect that by the next 10 years, we would see some of the most extraordinary innings,” opined the former English captain.
“He has already shown that in white-ball cricket and red-ball cricket. He is an all-format player, and he is box office,” concluded Vaughan.
Comparing Yashasvi Jaiswal and Harry Brooks’ Test stats
Having played in 34 Test matches in his short career so far, Harry Brook has already had a feast on the run book. He has amassed 3052 runs in Test cricket and has a triple hundred to his name. He averages 54.50 with 10 centuries so far in his career.
Yashasvi Jaiswal is an even younger name in world cricket, having played 28 matches so far in his career. He has amassed 2511 runs for India at an average of 49.23 and the highest score of 214*, that too against England. Jaiswal has 7 hundreds in his Test career so far.
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