Daijiworld Media Network- London

London, Jan 16: Former England cricketers Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton have unveiled their picks for the next generation's 'Fab Four', with a Pakistani star featuring prominently alongside emerging talents from India, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand.

The term 'Fab Four' was coined by former New Zealand cricketer Martin Crowe in the early 2010s, identifying players he believed would dominate world cricket in the years to come. With the original 'Fab Four'—Virat Kohli, Joe Root, Kane Williamson, and Steve Smith—now in the later stages of their careers, discussions around a new generation of top batters have intensified.

Speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, Hussain identified Yashasvi Jaiswal and Harry Brook as two key players alongside Saim Ayub from Pakistan. Hussain remarked, "Saim Ayub's just had this injury and it is not sure whether he will be fit for the Champions Trophy, but he could be a dynamic player at the top of the order for Pakistan across all formats."

Atherton, however, clarified that Travis Head, aged 31, does not qualify for the discussion due to his age, and then proceeded to pick Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis and New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra alongside Jaiswal and Brook as the next 'Fab Four'.

Saim Ayub's performances in 2024 have been impressive, scoring 1,254 runs in 35 international matches at an average of 33.00, with a strike rate of over 89. His best score was 113*, and in ODI cricket, he accumulated 515 runs in nine matches at an average of 64.37, including three centuries and a fifty, making him one of the top run-getters for Pakistan.

Yashasvi Jaiswal had a stellar year in 2024, scoring 1,478 Test runs in 15 matches at an average of 54.74, including three centuries and 11 fifties. His best score was 214, with 1,771 runs across all international formats in 23 matches and 37 innings at an average of 52.08.

Kamindu Mendis took the cricketing world by storm with his remarkable conversion rate, scoring 1,049 runs in nine Tests at an average of 74.62. His best score was 182*, and he became only the second-fastest player to reach 1,000 Test runs in just 13 innings.

Rachin Ravindra also had a strong year, making 1,079 runs in 19 matches at an average of 37.20, including two centuries and five fifties. His performances in Test cricket were noteworthy, with 984 runs in 12 matches at an average of 42.78, further solidifying his place in the discussion for the new 'Fab Four'.

These players have been recognized for their consistency and ability to excel across all formats, marking a promising future for the next generation of cricketers.