Seven cricket stars of the fut

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – MARCH 04: Andile Phehlukwayo of South Africa celebrates with teammates for the wicket of Dean Brownlie of New Zealand during game five of the One Day International series between New Zealand and South Africa at Eden Park on March 4, 2017 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)

Seven cricket stars of the future – from South Africa and around the world

We take a look at the Under 23s primed to follow in Kagiso Rabada’s footsteps and make their mark on the world stage with bat and ball. Oh, there’s the son of a Proteas legend in there, too.

Seven cricket stars of the fut

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – MARCH 04: Andile Phehlukwayo of South Africa celebrates with teammates for the wicket of Dean Brownlie of New Zealand during game five of the One Day International series between New Zealand and South Africa at Eden Park on March 4, 2017 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)

Andile Phehlukwayo

The 21-year-old all-rounder already has 24 international appearances to his name, despite very nearly being lost to playing hockey instead, of all things, while at school.

He has already topped the ticket-taking charts in a 5-0 clean sweep of Australia and has made his name with a neat combo of composed death-over bowling and imposing lower-order biffing in the limited overs game.

The next step: converting that into sustained progression with the red ball as well.

Dan Lawrence

Only just out of his teens, the English batsman is already a mainstay of the Essex side that sits atop the County Championship halfway through the season.

He was just 17 when he became the third-youngest Championship centurion in 2015 and has added a further five first-class hundreds since.

Not tantalised enough by all that? Well get this: he even bowls a bit of leg spin.

Lungi Ngidi

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JANUARY 22: Lungi Ngidi of the proteas celebrates the wicket of Kusal Mendis of SriLanka during the 2nd KFC T20 International match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Bidvest Wanderers Stadium on January 22, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images)

Bursting on to the international scene during the Proteas’ T20 series against Sri Lanka in January 2017, the Titans quick immediately caught the eye.

Picking up 2/12 on debut, he went even better in the second match with an eye-popping 4/19 from his four overs.

An injury while fielding in the series finale in Cape Town scuppered his chances of joining the tour Down Under that followed, but watch out for the strong right-armer into next season and beyond.

Rashid Khan

The teenage Afghan with the world at his feet, Khan has already mopped up 63 ODI wickets at an average of 14.74 since making his international debut as a 17-year-old in 2015.

In 2017 he became the costliest Associate Nation player at the IPL auction when he was snapped up by Sunrisers Hydrabad.

And that’s not all… the kid can give it a whack with the bat and has impressed with his fielding. The full package, you might say. What’s not to like?

Aiden Markram

CANTERBURY, ENGLAND – JUNE 22: Aiden Markram of South Africa A hits out as England Lions wicket keeper Ben Foakes and slip fielder Keaton Jennings look on during day 2 of the match between England Lions and South Africa A at The Spitfire Ground on June 22, 2017 in Canterbury, England. (Photo by Sarah Ansell/Getty Images).

Captain of the U19 World Cup winners in 2014, Markram’s rise has been more sedate than that of his former team-mate, Kagiso Rabada.

A strong 2017 campaign with the Titans earned the 22-year-old a call up for the ‘A’ side’s tour to England. There, Markram’s unbeaten ton against county side Hampshire and a composed 71 against the Lions (England’s ‘A’ side) led to his first inclusion in the full Test squad.

Watch this space.

Mustafizur Rahman

Another bowler to have turned out for Sunrisers Hydrabad in the IPL, the Bangladeshi speedster offers a left-arm option and a box full of tricks with red and white ball alike.

Not 22 until September, he has clocked up an impressive set of stats across all formats, including in the first four of what should be many Tests to follow.

Thando Ntini

Familiar name? You betcha. Son of Proteas legend and trailblazer Makhaya, Thando has only just turned 17, but that hasn’t stopped him being selected for South Africa U19s ahead of schedule.

He even took 4/56 on debut in Durban against the West Indies as he sprung from his father’s shadow.

Schooled at Selbourne College in the Eastern Cape before moving to Wynberg Boys’ High, you’ll be delighted to know he’s a fast bowler just like his old man.