5 to watch this summer

Will Young (Central Districts)

Likely next in line for a middle order spot. Well regarded but needs more centuries. He’s 23, is CD’s captain, averages 41.72, and has two hundreds and 20 fifties from 39 games. Gifted batsman but must bump up that conversion rate this summer.

Bharat Popli (Northern Districts)

Made a big impact last summer, hitting a chart-topping 1149 first-class runs at 67.58 with three tons. First-class average from 20 games is 49.83. At 24, a year older than Young, he should be coming into his best years.

Lockie Ferguson (Auckland)

A hunch this. Important thinkers in New Zealand cricket like the look of the slippery seamer. Took five wickets for a New Zealand XI against an Emerging Players side at Lincoln recently. Has 59 wickets from 17 first-class games at 25. Bowlers are not the main concern for the New Zealand team right now. They could always be better but batsmen are occupying most minds. Still, it doesn’t hurt to keep the supply of fast-medium operators topped up.

Jeet Raval, pictured (Auckland)

Had Martin Guptill not made 70 in the final test at Indore, Raval would most likely have packed his bags for Christchurch and the first Pakistan test next month. Now put that on hold. At 28, Raval should be in his batting prime. He’s made 4912 runs at 43.83, with 14 hundreds in 67 games. His sole job right now is get more big runs. That’s his best currency.

Ben Smith (CD)

Second top run-getter in the Plunket Shield last summer behind Popli with 917 runs at 61.13. Can bat long, as evidenced by his 244 against Otago last season. Another season like the last won’t do the 25-year-old’s prospects any harm.