Robert Craddock’s "outrageous wildcard" who could feature on future Test tours of India

Veteran cricket journalist Robbert Craddock liked the team Australia took across for their 3-0 T20 series win over Scotland in Edinburgh.

The Aussies won all three games in pretty convincing fashion and gave opportunities to the likes of Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cooper Connolly, Xavier Bartlett and Aaron Hardie across the tour to get some game time into the nation’s next generation of cricketers.

Craddock in particular is a fan of West Australia’s Connolly despite the 21-year-old not getting a bat and bowling three overs for 0/18 in his first international T20.

Connolly has made a name for himself playing for the Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash, and while he’s only played one First Class game for WA, Craddock thinks that he has the tools to be a handy red-ball option for Australia and even anointed him his ‘outrageous wildcard’ to go on a Test tour of India in the coming years.

“I really liked the team they picked for this tour,” Craddock said on SEN Whateley.

“There were players like young Western Australian all-rounder Cooper Connolly, the former Australian under 19 captain.

“Now he's only played one First Class game, but if you said to me, ‘Who’s your outrageous wildcard to tour India in a couple of years’ time?’, it’s him.

“He bowls left-arm finger spin and can bat. He just looks the part.”

Russell is also a big fan of his state teammate Hardie, and the 25-year-old took 2/18 from three overs and 1/13 from two overs in his two games in Scotland.

Craddock thinks that Australia should move forward with players like the all-rounder in the game’s shortest format to help refresh the playing squad which is slowly aging.

“I also like Aaron Hardie who opened the bowling. I like his figures, he's a good, tidy cricketer,” Craddock said.

“The interesting scenario coming out of this tour is that where does Australia go now in T20 cricket?

“Do you stick with the likes of Aaron Hardie? Or do you go back to Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Pat Cummins? Do you plan forward?

“I'd love to see us move forward because the next World Cup is a couple of years away.

“With the Test team, nearly every player is over 30. I think it's time for change and I love it when we do it in these shorter formats of the game.”

Australia next play England in three T20s beginning in Southampton on Thursday morning (AEST).