Australia v Pakistan news: Ex-national selection chairman John Inverarity warns against ‘helicopter’ approach

A former Australian selector fears the country’s best young cricketers are being mollycoddled and the “helicopter support” could lead to a missing generation.

As Australia’s fields a Test team with its youngest player 29, a former selector reckons he knows why there is a missing generation behind them.

Western Australian cricket legend John Inverarity, a former national selection chairman who was on the panel between 2011-14, reckons Australia mollycoddles its best young players and, as a result, it restricts their ability to grow and think for themselves.

Australia has been blessed to have a generation of outstanding Test match talent which is currently ruling the world but, particularly batting wise, the pecking order behind them is unclear and lacking standouts.

Marnus Labuschagne is one of the babies of the Australian team at the age of 29. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

There are eight players of 32 or older in the team playing Pakistan and incredibly, Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head, at 29, are the “babies’’ of the team.

“If you are a good parent you raise to independence,’’ Inverarity said.

“You need to support your children when they need support. If you provide too much support and you heal you stop their development. I think that is apparent. There are fewer young stars coming though. I sense that on the way up too much is done for them.

“There is helicopter support and coaching and always telling them what to do rather than have them work it out for themselves.

“You think of guys like Ricky Ponting, Doug Walters, Rod Marsh, the Chappells. They were hardened competitors and men by the age of 21. You don’t seem to see that as much now.

“All this looking after them and saying ‘he’s only 26.’ It’s different and I don’t think it is better.’’

John Iverarity with then Aussie coach Darren Lehmann in 2014. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Most of Australia’s fringe batsmen — Cam Bancroft, Matt Renshaw and Marcus Harris among them — are experienced first class players.

Australia has only had a full-time cricket coach since the mid-1980s when Bob Simpson took charge of the team but now the amount of support for first class and Big Bash teams is extensive with myriad batting and bowling coaches, team managers and data experts.

The advent of professionalism has meant young players can earn a full-time living from the game but there is a feeling that they are so well supported they are not challenged to become free thinkers.

Inverarity said there were other factors why young players were struggling to break into the team.

“One factor is the money because people want to keep playing for longer and the other one is physical fitness. Players are in much better physical shape than they used to be in the 1950s and 60s.’’