The new ‘Fab 4’? Ravindra, Jaiswal, Brook and Mendis

In the past 12 to 24 months, we have witnessed the emergence of four promising talents in Test cricket: Harry Brook, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rachin Ravindra, and Kamindu Mendis. The golden era of Test cricket featuring Virat Kohli, Joe Root, Kane Williamson, and Steve Smith appears to be drawing to a close. Williamson's recurring injuries have hindered his performance, while Kohli and Smith seem to have diminished from their peak form. In contrast, Root remains the most consistent, maintaining his fitness and performance levels.

However, with the growing influence of franchise cricket posing a challenge to the traditional format, it raises the question of what records these new players might establish in their careers. Drawing from statistical analysis of each country's Test schedule and the early performances of these four players, I have attempted to project their potential records by the time they retire.

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Rachin Ravindra

Despite debuting back in 2021, Rachin Ravindra didn't rise to stardom until the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. His blistering knock against England to open the Tournament put the World on notice, and since then he has gone from strength to strength. What sets him apart from many other batters hailing from Western countries is his ability to play spin bowling. Whether it is using his feet, slog sweeping, or defending, Rachin looks at ease in conditions where many of the great NZ, AUS and English players have struggled over the years.

Prediction:

Matches	80-90
Total Runs	7000-8000
Batting Average	46-48
100s	17-21
50s	35-40

We have arrived at these statistics based on the following factors mentioned below:

• Averaging around 40-45 during early career: Currently averaging 42.18.
• Prime years averaging closer to 50: Ability against both seam and spin should prevent disparity between home and away batting averages.
• Some decline in later years: Neither Kohli nor Smith has averaged 50 since 2019
• NZ conditions can be challenging for batting: 1st innings average in NZ has been 340 over the last 10 years.
• NZ averages between 7-9 test matches per year
• Proved he can have success vs good bowling attacks
• Will likely have stronger home records due to NZ pitches flattening out and not spinning.
• Could exceed these numbers if NZ increases its Test schedule
• Being a left-hander will help in certain matchups given the amount of left-arm spin in today's game.
• Mental strength shown in World Cup 2023 suggests good big-match temperament.
• May struggle with having too much pressure on his shoulders with NZs perceived lack of depth.

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Harry Brook

Since debuting in test cricket in 2022 Harry Brook has been a phenomenon around world cricket. His ability to consistently score big runs while playing a high strike-rate style of cricket has been something to watch. He has seamlessly fit into 'Bazball' and the number 5 slot in the batting order. He has shown great ability off the back foot to seam, as well as a great ability against spin.

This seems to be a trend across these 4 players, the skill to be equally good against both seam and spin. Based on his current record and some other factors we have predicted Harry Brook's test record.

Prediction:

Tests	120-130
Runs	9500-11000
Batting Average	47-51
100s	20-25
50s	40-50

We arrived at these numbers based on the following factors mentioned below:

• Currently averaging 56.29 in test cricket.
• England's heavy Test schedule: Even in the T20 era England still play between 10-11 tests per year.
• His aggressive batting style: Means low scores but also the ability to score 100s without batting 100 overs.
• Modern cricket's physical demands: Negative impact if he remains a 3 format payer.
• Potential technical adjustments needed: Potential weakness trying to hit spin on turning tracks + Trying to straight pull on bouncy pitches.
• Impact of playing across all formats: Burnout
• Decline after a certain period: As mentioned above, will he sustain his ability into his mid-30s?
• Helpful batting surfaces given England's style of cricket: Wickets in England have not seamed around how they used to.
• Conversion rate early in career: Tends to turn 50s into 100s if he gets in, taken into account.
• Potential captaincy later in career and effect that may have: Captaincy tends to either positively or negatively impact a batsman's run output.
• Number of tests against historically strong Australian bowling attack: If he plays 100 tests, 25 of them will be against a likely very strong Australian bowling attack.

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Yashasvi Jaiswal

Despite making his Test debut in 2023 against the West Indies, Yashasvi Jaiswal's true emergence as a Test match destroyer came during England's tour of India in 2024. His back-to-back double centuries and fearless approach to batting put the cricket world on notice. What sets him apart from many modern openers is his aggressive approach against spin bowling. Whether it's dancing down the track to spinners, reverse sweeping, or defending when required, Jaiswal represents the new age of Indian batting - one that combines traditional Indian wristwork with modern-day attacking intent.

Prediction:

Tests	110-120
Runs	9000-10,000
Batting Average	44-46
100s	28-32
50s	43-53

We arrived at these numbers based on the following factors mentioned below:

• Currently averaging 56.29
• India's regular Test schedule: India still holds test cricket in high regard, playing on average 10 tests per year.
• His attacking batting philosophy: Ability to get off to a start consistently in home conditions
• Strength in home conditions: Ability to dominate seam and spin in India
• Potential growth in overseas conditions: Yet to see him in Australia, South Africa and NZ.
• Balance across all formats: Likely to be a multi-format player- potential negative effects.
• Facing seam in India: Can get away with being loose and aggressive against the new ball.
• Competition for a place in India's 11: Historically Indian openers get replaced faster than openers from other countries.
• Potential struggles in SENA conditions: Will have to adapt to conditions where the new ball seams and swings.
• Unproven ability to play fast short-pitch bowling: Likely to get tested with short-pitch bowling, something he won't be totally familiar with.
• Ability to turn 100s into big 100s: Tends to go big once he gets in. Helps with volume of runs and batting average.

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Kamindu Mendis

After making his Test debut in 2024 against Afghanistan, Kamindu Mendis' true arrival as a Test match specialist came during Bangladesh's tour of Sri Lanka, where his double century and century in the same match announced him as Sri Lanka's next batting star. His masterful 320 runs in a single Test put the cricket world on notice. What sets him apart from many modern Sri Lankan batters is his classical approach to batting, combined with modern-day scoring rates. Whether it's his elegant drives through the covers, precise footwork against spin, or his ability to shift gears seamlessly, Mendis represents the perfect bridge between Sri Lanka's classical batting heritage and modern-day test cricket.

Prediction:

Tests	80-90
Runs	7000-8000
Batting Average	45-48
100s	15-20
50s	30-40

We arrived at these numbers based on the following factors mentioned below:

• Current Record: Averaging 91.2 in test cricket.
• Sri Lanka's typical Test schedule: Sri Lanka only plays between 7-9 tests per year on average.
• His classical batting approach: Compact and solid lends itself to being effective in most conditions.
• Strength in home conditions: Currently averaging over 100 in Sri Lanka.
• Potential growth in overseas Tests: Shown he can score 100s in England.
• Current trajectory of Sri Lankan cricket: Not a big draw card anymore which lends itself to less 3+ test match series.
• Challenge of overseas conditions: Yet to be tested in NZ, AUS and South Africa.
• Sri Lanka's limited Test schedule going forward: No 3 test series in the next 2 years.
• Three-format workload: Less depth in Sri Lanka cricket could lead to burnout with Menis likely to play all formats for his country.
• Team's transitional phase: Most scouting and planning by other teams will be focused on Mendis due to Sri Lanka's lack of depth.

It remains to be seen how accurate these predictions will be. However provided test cricket is looked after long term by the ICC, we could be looking at a new 'Fab 4' as good as or even better than the one we have treasured for the last decade.