24-year-old Lance Morris has been the name on everyone's lips after he was picked for the Australian extended squad against the West Indies, and has now remained there for the first Test against South Africa.
But who is this new star?
His sudden rise can be explained with his impressive bowling numbers. Particularly, in Shield cricket where he sits top of the wicket tally. He has dismissed 27 batters at 18.4 with an economy of 3.33, with his best figures being 5/36 off 18 overs.
His efforts have seen Western Australia top the Sheffield Shield with no losses so far. His first-class career has seen 59 total wickets from just 18 matches played, with an average of 25.08.
Morris has showed his class in the Shield after he ripped through both Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja in the same over, trapping Labuschagne LBW with Khawaja edging through to the slips during a game against Queensland.
The door has now been opened for a potential debut for Australia with the upcoming series against South Africa in mind.
Captain Pat Cummins has an injury which will be met with a conservative approach, although he is set to return in the first Test against the Proteas in Brisbane on Saturday. Fellow quick Josh Hazlewood in the same boat as Cummins, picking up a side strain, and he has now also been ruled out for the first Test against the South Africans.
As for Mitchell Starc, the quick turnaround from Test to Test this summer could mean a rest at some point to ensure he doesn't suffer the same fate, with Australia playing Michael Neser and Scott Boland in Adelaide.
The duo will remain favourites to be into the side, however, the extreme pace of Morris, who is rated as the quickest bowler in Australia at the present time, will likely be a tempting prospect for selectors.
Morris has since acquired the same nickname as pace legend Shaun Tait, ‘Wild Thing'. He regularly clocks the speed gun north of 150 km/h, and Western Australian teammate Josh Philippe has declared that “Blokes are scared to face him”.
BBL fans may remember Morris from when he smashed through Shaun Marsh's bat, so it is no surprise that Philippe says that people are scared to face his pace.
Australia faces South Africa on December 17 with all eyes on who is selected, including the red-hot and inform Lance Morris.
