Beau Webster (Australia)
Tests: 381 runs at 34.63 (12 innings); 8 wickets at 23.25 (11 innings)
Webster is a late bloomer: he was 31 by the time he made his Test debut for Australia, at home against India in January 2025, parachuted into the side as a replacement for Mitchell Marsh. He was valued for his hard-hitting lower-order batting and his accurate medium pace. In a memorable first outing in Sydney, he scored a half-century and an unbeaten 39 to seal the chase for Australia. He went on to make four half-centuries in the six other Tests he played across the year. His acumen stood out on especially tough pitches in Sri Lanka, during two half-centuries in a low-scoring series in the West Indies, and in the 72 he made on a bouncing, pacy track in the WTC final at Lord's. While Australia came up short in that last match, they won every other Test he played - a sign that he was vital glue in their line-up as a flexible allrounder.
Tests: 381 runs at 34.63 (12 innings); 8 wickets at 23.25 (11 innings)
Webster is a late bloomer: he was 31 by the time he made his Test debut for Australia, at home against India in January 2025, parachuted into the side as a replacement for Mitchell Marsh. He was valued for his hard-hitting lower-order batting and his accurate medium pace. In a memorable first outing in Sydney, he scored a half-century and an unbeaten 39 to seal the chase for Australia. He went on to make four half-centuries in the six other Tests he played across the year. His acumen stood out on especially tough pitches in Sri Lanka, during two half-centuries in a low-scoring series in the West Indies, and in the 72 he made on a bouncing, pacy track in the WTC final at Lord's. While Australia came up short in that last match, they won every other Test he played - a sign that he was vital glue in their line-up as a flexible allrounder.
Lhuan-dre Pretorius (South Africa)
Tests: 235 runs at 78.33 (3 innings)
ODIs: 142 runs at 47.33 (3 innings)
T20Is: 157 runs at 121.7 SR (12 innings)
The South Africa keeper-batter made his international debut for South Africa across formats only a year after blasting three half-centuries at the Under-19 World Cup. His being fast-tracked into the senior set-up looked like a wise decision by the end of his first Test. During his 153 against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, he became the youngest batter to get to 150 in men's Tests, at 19 years and 93 days. He followed that up with 78 in the next Test, and showed further promise in white-ball cricket, in the company of his idol, Quinton de Kock; both are left-hand wicketkeepers who give it a whack at the top of the order. While Pretorius hasn't scored bucketloads of runs in limited-overs cricket yet, he did make a fifty each against Pakistan and New Zealand.
Tests: 235 runs at 78.33 (3 innings)
ODIs: 142 runs at 47.33 (3 innings)
T20Is: 157 runs at 121.7 SR (12 innings)
The South Africa keeper-batter made his international debut for South Africa across formats only a year after blasting three half-centuries at the Under-19 World Cup. His being fast-tracked into the senior set-up looked like a wise decision by the end of his first Test. During his 153 against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, he became the youngest batter to get to 150 in men's Tests, at 19 years and 93 days. He followed that up with 78 in the next Test, and showed further promise in white-ball cricket, in the company of his idol, Quinton de Kock; both are left-hand wicketkeepers who give it a whack at the top of the order. While Pretorius hasn't scored bucketloads of runs in limited-overs cricket yet, he did make a fifty each against Pakistan and New Zealand.
Mitchell Owen (Australia)
ODIs: 36 runs at 18.5, 3 wickets at 21 (2 innings)
T20Is: 163 runs at 158.25 SR (9 innings), 2 wickets at 11.8 econ (4 innings)
At the start of the year, Owen was not quite a prolific batter in Tasmania's middle order, but he was pushed up the line-up, opening for both his domestic side and Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL. His newfound love for the new ball, and an ability to score bruising centuries, propelled him into the Australia T20I squad for their tour of the Caribbean in July. He had to shift back down to No. 6 because of a crowded top order, but the brutality of his strokeplay remained. He scored 50 on debut, followed by scores of 36 not out, 2, and 37, all while striking at a phenomenal 192.3. He can chip in with handy medium pace as well, and was rewarded with an ODI debut, against India, in October. Although he made only 37 runs in two innings, Owen impressed with the ball, picking up 2 for 20 on debut in the death overs of a rain-shortened contest in Perth.
ODIs: 36 runs at 18.5, 3 wickets at 21 (2 innings)
T20Is: 163 runs at 158.25 SR (9 innings), 2 wickets at 11.8 econ (4 innings)
At the start of the year, Owen was not quite a prolific batter in Tasmania's middle order, but he was pushed up the line-up, opening for both his domestic side and Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL. His newfound love for the new ball, and an ability to score bruising centuries, propelled him into the Australia T20I squad for their tour of the Caribbean in July. He had to shift back down to No. 6 because of a crowded top order, but the brutality of his strokeplay remained. He scored 50 on debut, followed by scores of 36 not out, 2, and 37, all while striking at a phenomenal 192.3. He can chip in with handy medium pace as well, and was rewarded with an ODI debut, against India, in October. Although he made only 37 runs in two innings, Owen impressed with the ball, picking up 2 for 20 on debut in the death overs of a rain-shortened contest in Perth.
Hasan Nawaz
ODIs: 113 runs at 56.5 (4 innings)
T20Is: 457 runs at 154.39 SR (24 innings)
Nawaz was thrown into the limelight as a hard-hitting opener, an antidote to the Babars and Rizwans of the world. Replacing them at the top of the order, Nawaz had a tough initiation into international cricket. Four of his five T20I innings in New Zealand last March produced only one run. The true promise of Nawaz, however, was revealed in the swashbuckling 45-ball 105 not out that he scored in the middle of this sequence, helping Pakistan chase down 205 at Eden Park in 16 overs. It was the fastest T20I century by a Pakistan batter; 75 of his runs came from the 30 balls he faced after the powerplay, highlighting his flexibility once the ball got soft and the field spread out. He also played three ODIs against West Indies in August, averaging over 50. But for all his promise, he remains a work in progress: he was dropped in November from Pakistan's white-ball sides after managing double figures only once in his last eight matches, and averaging under 6 during this phase.
ODIs: 113 runs at 56.5 (4 innings)
T20Is: 457 runs at 154.39 SR (24 innings)
Nawaz was thrown into the limelight as a hard-hitting opener, an antidote to the Babars and Rizwans of the world. Replacing them at the top of the order, Nawaz had a tough initiation into international cricket. Four of his five T20I innings in New Zealand last March produced only one run. The true promise of Nawaz, however, was revealed in the swashbuckling 45-ball 105 not out that he scored in the middle of this sequence, helping Pakistan chase down 205 at Eden Park in 16 overs. It was the fastest T20I century by a Pakistan batter; 75 of his runs came from the 30 balls he faced after the powerplay, highlighting his flexibility once the ball got soft and the field spread out. He also played three ODIs against West Indies in August, averaging over 50. But for all his promise, he remains a work in progress: he was dropped in November from Pakistan's white-ball sides after managing double figures only once in his last eight matches, and averaging under 6 during this phase.
Salman Mirza
T20Is: 16 wickets at 6.36 econ (11 innings)
Mirza, now 32, has had a fairy-tale T20 story. The left-arm pacer, in and around the domestic circuit since 2021, rose to overnight prominence because of his fiery spells for Lahore Qalandars in the 2025 PSL. His knack for yorkers and cutters alike got him into Pakistan's T20I side for their tour of Bangladesh in July. He took 2 for 23 and 2 for 17 in two defeats before dismantling Bangladesh's top order with a feisty 3 for 19 in the consolation win in the final match. When South Africa visited Pakistan in October, Mirza picked up his best figures - 3 for 14 - while leaving the visitors reeling at 66 for 6 in Lahore. The swing and pace on display justified his spot in the side, picked as he was ahead of Shaheen Shah Afridi.
T20Is: 16 wickets at 6.36 econ (11 innings)
Mirza, now 32, has had a fairy-tale T20 story. The left-arm pacer, in and around the domestic circuit since 2021, rose to overnight prominence because of his fiery spells for Lahore Qalandars in the 2025 PSL. His knack for yorkers and cutters alike got him into Pakistan's T20I side for their tour of Bangladesh in July. He took 2 for 23 and 2 for 17 in two defeats before dismantling Bangladesh's top order with a feisty 3 for 19 in the consolation win in the final match. When South Africa visited Pakistan in October, Mirza picked up his best figures - 3 for 14 - while leaving the visitors reeling at 66 for 6 in Lahore. The swing and pace on display justified his spot in the side, picked as he was ahead of Shaheen Shah Afridi.